UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

xQUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 26,December 31, 2016

or

¨TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period fromto.

Commission File Number:001-36743

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Apple Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

California 94-2404110

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1 Infinite Loop

Cupertino, California

 95014
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(408) 996-1010

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)


Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes  x    No  ¨


Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files).


Yes  x    No  ¨


Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer

 

x

  

Accelerated filer

 

¨

Non-accelerated filer

 

¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

  

Smaller reporting company

 

¨


Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes  ¨    No  x

5,477,425,000


5,246,540,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, issued and outstanding as of April 8, 2016


January 20, 2017


Apple Inc.

Form 10-Q

For the Fiscal Quarter Ended March 26,December 31, 2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 Page

Item 1.    

Item 2.

23

Item 3.

34

Item 4.

34
 

Item 1.

34

Item 1A.

35

Item 2.

44

Item 3.

44

Item 4.

44

Item 5.

44

Item 6.

45


PART I—I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION


Item 1.Financial Statements

Apple Inc.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

(In millions, except number of shares which are reflected in thousands and per share amounts)

                                                                                                
   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
 

Net sales

  $50,557    $58,010    $126,429    $132,609  

Cost of sales

   30,636     34,354     76,085     79,212  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross margin

   19,921     23,656     50,344     53,397  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

    

        

Operating expenses:

        

Research and development

   2,511     1,918     4,915     3,813  

Selling, general and administrative

   3,423     3,460     7,271     7,060  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

   5,934     5,378     12,186     10,873  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

    

        

Operating income

   13,987     18,278     38,158     42,524  

Other income/(expense), net

   155     286     557     456  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before provision for income taxes

   14,142     18,564     38,715     42,980  

Provision for income taxes

   3,626     4,995     9,838     11,387  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

  $10,516    $13,569    $28,877    $31,593  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings per share:

        

Basic

  $1.91    $2.34    $5.22    $5.43  

Diluted

  $1.90    $2.33    $5.19    $5.39  

    

        

Shares used in computing earnings per share:

        

Basic

   5,514,381     5,793,799     5,536,656     5,818,441  

Diluted

   5,540,886     5,834,858     5,567,506     5,858,330  

Cash dividends declared per share

  $0.52    $0.47    $1.04    $0.94  

 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
Net sales$78,351
 $75,872
Cost of sales48,175
 45,449
Gross margin30,176
 30,423
    
Operating expenses:   
Research and development2,871
 2,404
Selling, general and administrative3,946
 3,848
Total operating expenses6,817
 6,252
    
Operating income23,359
 24,171
Other income/(expense), net821
 402
Income before provision for income taxes24,180
 24,573
Provision for income taxes6,289
 6,212
Net income$17,891
 $18,361
    
Earnings per share:   
Basic$3.38
 $3.30
Diluted$3.36
 $3.28
    
Shares used in computing earnings per share:   
Basic5,298,661
 5,558,930
Diluted5,327,995
 5,594,127
    
Cash dividends declared per share$0.57
 $0.52
See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


Apple Inc.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)

(In millions)

                                                                
   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
 

Net income

  $10,516    $13,569    $28,877    $31,593  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income/(loss):

        

Change in foreign currency translation, net of tax

   120     (180   18     (246

    

        

Change in unrealized gains/losses on derivative instruments:

        

Change in fair value of derivatives, net of tax

   (178   1,037     109     3,019  

Adjustment for net (gains)/losses realized and included in net income, net of tax

   (528   (739   (973   (1,304
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total change in unrealized gains/losses on derivative instruments, net of tax

   (706   298     (864   1,715  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

    

        

Change in unrealized gains/losses on marketable securities:

        

Change in fair value of marketable securities, net of tax

   969     593     47     137  

Adjustment for net (gains)/losses realized and included in net income, net of tax

   49     36     96     22  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total change in unrealized gains/losses on marketable securities, net of tax

   1,018     629     143     159  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other comprehensive income/(loss)

   432     747     (703   1,628  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

  $10,948    $14,316    $28,174    $33,221  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
Net income$17,891
 $18,361
Other comprehensive income/(loss):   
Change in foreign currency translation, net of tax effects of $76 and $19, respectively(375) (102)
    
Change in unrealized gains/losses on derivative instruments:   
Change in fair value of derivatives, net of tax benefit/(expense) of $(228) and $(38), respectively1,468
 287
Adjustment for net (gains)/losses realized and included in net income, net of tax expense/(benefit) of $(211) and $66, respectively306
 (445)
Total change in unrealized gains/losses on derivative instruments, net of tax1,774
 (158)
    
Change in unrealized gains/losses on marketable securities:   
Change in fair value of marketable securities, net of tax benefit/(expense) of $989 and $508, respectively(1,808) (922)
Adjustment for net (gains)/losses realized and included in net income, net of tax expense/(benefit) of $(11) and $(26), respectively20
 47
Total change in unrealized gains/losses on marketable securities, net of tax(1,788) (875)
    
Total other comprehensive income/(loss)(389) (1,135)
Total comprehensive income$17,502
 $17,226
See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


Apple Inc.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

(In millions, except number of shares which are reflected in thousands and par value)

                                                
   March 26,
2016
   September 26,
2015
 
ASSETS:  

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

  $21,514    $21,120  

Short-term marketable securities

   33,769     20,481  

Accounts receivable, less allowances of $60 and $63, respectively

   12,229     16,849  

Inventories

   2,281     2,349  

Vendor non-trade receivables

   7,595     13,494  

Other current assets

   10,204     15,085  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

   87,592     89,378  

    

 ��  

Long-term marketable securities

   177,645     164,065  

Property, plant and equipment, net

   23,203     22,471  

Goodwill

   5,249     5,116  

Acquired intangible assets, net

   3,843     3,893  

Other non-current assets

   7,745     5,556  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

  $305,277    $290,479  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

    

    
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:  

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

  $25,098    $35,490  

Accrued expenses

   23,208     25,181  

Deferred revenue

   9,461     8,940  

Commercial paper

   7,998     8,499  

Current portion of long-term debt

   2,500     2,500  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

   68,265     80,610  

    

    

Deferred revenue, non-current

   3,322     3,624  

Long-term debt

   69,374     53,463  

Other non-current liabilities

   33,859     33,427  

Total liabilities

   174,820     171,124  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

    

    

Commitments and contingencies

    

    

    

Shareholders’ equity:

    

Common stock and additional paid-in capital, $0.00001 par value: 12,600,000 shares authorized; 5,478,446 and 5,578,753 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

   29,484     27,416  

Retained earnings

   102,021     92,284  

Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)

   (1,048   (345
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

   130,457     119,355  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

  $305,277    $290,479  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 December 31,
2016
 September 24,
2016
ASSETS:
Current assets:   
Cash and cash equivalents$16,371
 $20,484
Short-term marketable securities44,081
 46,671
Accounts receivable, less an allowance of $53 in each period14,057
 15,754
Inventories2,712
 2,132
Vendor non-trade receivables13,920
 13,545
Other current assets12,191
 8,283
Total current assets103,332
 106,869
    
Long-term marketable securities185,638
 170,430
Property, plant and equipment, net26,510
 27,010
Goodwill5,423
 5,414
Acquired intangible assets, net2,848
 3,206
Other non-current assets7,390
 8,757
Total assets$331,141
 $321,686
    
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Current liabilities:   
Accounts payable$38,510
 $37,294
Accrued expenses23,739
 22,027
Deferred revenue7,889
 8,080
Commercial paper10,493
 8,105
Current portion of long-term debt3,499
 3,500
Total current liabilities84,130
 79,006
    
Deferred revenue, non-current3,163
 2,930
Long-term debt73,557
 75,427
Other non-current liabilities37,901
 36,074
Total liabilities198,751
 193,437
    
Commitments and contingencies
 
    
Shareholders’ equity:   
Common stock and additional paid-in capital, $0.00001 par value: 12,600,000 shares authorized; 5,255,423 and 5,336,166 shares issued and outstanding, respectively32,144
 31,251
Retained earnings100,001
 96,364
Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)245
 634
Total shareholders’ equity132,390
 128,249
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity$331,141
 $321,686
See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


Apple Inc.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

(In millions)

                                                
   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period

  $21,120    $13,844  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating activities:

    

Net income

   28,877     31,593  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash generated by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

   5,431     5,054  

Share-based compensation expense

   2,126     1,815  

Deferred income tax expense

   3,092     1,879  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable, net

   4,620     6,555  

Inventories

   68     (285

Vendor non-trade receivables

   5,899     2,500  

Other current and non-current assets

   300     2,448  

Accounts payable

   (9,475   (5,428

Deferred revenue

   219     993  

Other current and non-current liabilities

   (2,093   5,679  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash generated by operating activities

   39,064     52,803  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing activities:

    

Purchases of marketable securities

   (86,242   (92,523

Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities

   9,148     5,871  

Proceeds from sales of marketable securities

   50,051     48,924  

Payments made in connection with business acquisitions, net

   (140   (115

Payments for acquisition of property, plant and equipment

   (5,948   (5,586

Payments for acquisition of intangible assets

   (657   (155

Other

   (322   88  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash used in investing activities

   (34,110   (43,496
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

    

    

Financing activities:

    

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

   247     309  

Excess tax benefits from equity awards

   264     357  

Payments for taxes related to net share settlement of equity awards

   (751   (608

Payments for dividends and dividend equivalents

   (5,871   (5,544

Repurchase of common stock

   (13,530   (12,000

Proceeds from issuance of term debt, net

   15,584     11,332  

Change in commercial paper, net

   (503   (2,508
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash used in financing activities

   (4,560   (8,662
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

   394     645  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period

  $21,514    $14,489  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental cash flow disclosure:

    

Cash paid for income taxes, net

  $6,630    $7,058  

Cash paid for interest

  $565    $220  

 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period$20,484
 $21,120
    
Operating activities:   
Net income17,891
 18,361
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash generated by operating activities:   
Depreciation and amortization2,987
 2,954
Share-based compensation expense1,256
 1,078
Deferred income tax expense1,452
 1,592
Other(274) 110
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:   
Accounts receivable, net1,697
 3,896
Inventories(580) (102)
Vendor non-trade receivables(375) 1,826
Other current and non-current assets(1,446) (1,058)
Accounts payable2,460
 (852)
Deferred revenue42
 (29)
Other current and non-current liabilities1,946
 (313)
Cash generated by operating activities27,056
 27,463
    
Investing activities:   
Purchases of marketable securities(54,272) (47,836)
Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities6,525
 3,514
Proceeds from sales of marketable securities32,166
 28,262
Payments made in connection with business acquisitions, net(17) (86)
Payments for acquisition of property, plant and equipment(3,334) (3,612)
Payments for acquisition of intangible assets(86) (394)
Payments for strategic investments
 (126)
Other(104) (172)
Cash used in investing activities(19,122) (20,450)
    
Financing activities:   
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
 1
Excess tax benefits from equity awards178
 224
Payments for taxes related to net share settlement of equity awards(629) (597)
Payments for dividends and dividend equivalents(3,130) (2,969)
Repurchases of common stock(10,851) (6,863)
Change in commercial paper, net2,385
 (1,240)
Cash used in financing activities(12,047) (11,444)
    
Increase/(Decrease) in cash and cash equivalents(4,113) (4,431)
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period$16,371
 $16,689
    
Supplemental cash flow disclosure:   
Cash paid for income taxes, net$3,510
 $3,398
Cash paid for interest$497
 $396

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


Apple Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Apple Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively “Apple” or the “Company”) designs, manufactures and markets mobile communication and media devices, personal computers and portable digital music players, and sells a variety of related software, services, accessories, networking solutions and third-party digital content and applications. The Company’s products and services include iPhone®, iPad®, Mac®, iPod®, Apple Watch®, Apple TV®, a portfolio of consumer and professional software applications, iOS, macOS™, watchOS® and tvOS™ operating systems, iCloud®, Apple Pay® and a variety of accessory, service and support offerings. The Company sells and delivers digital content and applications through the iTunes Store®, App Store®, Mac App Store, TV App Store, iBooks Store™ and Apple Music® (collectively “Digital Content and Services”). The Company sells its products worldwide through its retail stores, online stores and direct sales force, as well as through third-party cellular network carriers, wholesalers, retailers and value-added resellers. In addition, the Company sells a variety of third-party Apple-compatible products, including application software and various accessories through its onlineretail and retailonline stores. The Company sells to consumers, small and mid-sized businesses and education, enterprise and government customers.

Basis of Presentation and Preparation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. In the opinion of the Company’s management, the condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which are normal and recurring in nature, necessary for fair financial statement presentation. The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in these condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Certain prior period amounts in the condensed consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation.

These condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with the Company’sCompany's annual consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 26, 201524, 2016 (the “2015“2016 Form 10-K”).

The Company’s fiscal year is the 52 or 53-week period that ends on the last Saturday of September. An additionalThe Company’s fiscal year 2017 will include 53 weeks and ends on September 30, 2017 and its fiscal year 2016 included 52 weeks and ended on September 24, 2016. A 14th week ishas been included in the first fiscal quarter approximatelyof 2017, as is done every five or six years, to realign fiscal quarters with calendar quarters. The Company’s fiscal years 2016 and 2015 each include 52 weeks. Unless otherwise stated, references to particular years, quarters, or months and periods refer to the Company’s fiscal years ended in September and the associated quarters, or months and periods of those fiscal years.

During the first quarter of 2016, the Company adopted an accounting standard that simplified the presentation of deferred taxes by requiring deferred tax assets and liabilities be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. The Company has adopted this accounting standard prospectively; accordingly, the prior period amounts in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets within this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q were not adjusted to conform to the new accounting standard. The adoption of this accounting standard was not material to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period increased to include the number of additional shares of common stock that would have been outstanding if the potentially dilutive securities had been issued. Potentially dilutive securities include outstanding stock options, shares to be purchased by employees under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan, unvested restricted stock and unvested restricted stock units (“RSUs”). The dilutive effect of potentially dilutive securities is reflected in diluted earnings per share by application of the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, an increase in the fair market value of the Company’s common stock can result in a greater dilutive effect from potentially dilutive securities.


The following table shows the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three- and six-month periodsthree months ended March 26,December 31, 2016 and March 28,December 26, 2015 (net income in millions and shares in thousands):

                                                                                                
   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
 

Numerator:

        

Net income

  $10,516    $13,569    $28,877    $31,593  

Denominator:

        

Weighted-average shares outstanding

   5,514,381     5,793,799     5,536,656     5,818,441  

Effect of dilutive securities

   26,505     41,059     30,850     39,889  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average diluted shares

   5,540,886     5,834,858     5,567,506     5,858,330  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

  $1.91    $2.34    $5.22    $5.43  

Diluted earnings per share

  $1.90    $2.33    $5.19    $5.39  

 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
Numerator:   
Net income$17,891
 $18,361
    
Denominator:   
Weighted-average shares outstanding5,298,661
 5,558,930
Effect of dilutive securities29,334
 35,197
Weighted-average diluted shares5,327,995
 5,594,127
    
Basic earnings per share$3.38
 $3.30
Diluted earnings per share$3.36
 $3.28
Potentially dilutive securities whose effect would have been antidilutive are excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share.

Note 2 – Financial Instruments

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities

The following tables show the Company’s cash andavailable-for-sale securities’ adjusted cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and fair value by significant investment category recorded as cash and cash equivalents or short- or long-term marketable securities as of March 26,December 31, 2016 and September 26, 201524, 2016 (in millions):

                                                                                                                                     
  March 26, 2016 
  Adjusted
Cost
  Unrealized
Gains
  Unrealized
Losses
  Fair
Value
  Cash and
Cash
Equivalents
  Short-Term
Marketable
Securities
  Long-Term
Marketable
Securities
 

Cash

 $10,199   $0   $0   $10,199   $10,199   $0   $0  

    

       

Level 1(1):

       

Money market funds

  2,798    0    0    2,798    2,798    0    0  

Mutual funds

  1,772    0    (203  1,569    0    1,569    0  
 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Subtotal

  4,570    0    (203  4,367    2,798    1,569    0  
 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

    

       

Level 2(2):

       

U.S. Treasury securities

  47,883    207    (24  48,066    3,753    10,614    33,699  

U.S. agency securities

  6,641    12    (2  6,651    465    2,703    3,483  

Non-U.S. government securities

  6,873    91    (121  6,843    0    696    6,147  

Certificates of deposit and time deposits

  4,169    0    0    4,169    1,529    660    1,980  

Commercial paper

  4,500    0    0    4,500    2,681    1,819    0  

Corporate securities

  129,394    543    (1,074  128,863    89    15,553    113,221  

Municipal securities

  952    6    0    958    0    72    886  

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

  18,268    86    (42  18,312    0    83    18,229  
 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Subtotal

  218,680    945    (1,263  218,362    8,517    32,200    177,645  
 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

    

       

Total

 $233,449   $945   $(1,466 $232,928   $21,514   $33,769   $177,645  
 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                     
  September 26, 2015 
  Adjusted
Cost
  Unrealized
Gains
  Unrealized
Losses
  Fair
Value
  Cash and
Cash
Equivalents
  Short-Term
Marketable
Securities
  Long-Term
Marketable
Securities
 

Cash

 $11,389   $0   $0   $11,389   $11,389   $0   $0  

    

       

Level 1(1):

       

Money market funds

  1,798    0    0    1,798    1,798    0    0  

Mutual funds

  1,772    0    (144  1,628    0    1,628    0  
 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Subtotal

  3,570    0    (144  3,426    1,798    1,628    0  
 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

    

       

Level 2(2):

       

U.S. Treasury securities

  34,902    181    (1  35,082    0    3,498    31,584  

U.S. agency securities

  5,864    14    0    5,878    841    767    4,270  

Non-U.S. government securities

  6,356    45    (167  6,234    43    135    6,056  

Certificates of deposit and time deposits

  4,347    0    0    4,347    2,065    1,405    877  

Commercial paper

  6,016    0    0    6,016    4,981    1,035    0  

Corporate securities

  116,908    242    (985  116,165    3    11,948    104,214  

Municipal securities

  947    5    0    952    0    48    904  

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

  16,121    87    (31  16,177    0    17    16,160  
 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Subtotal

  191,461    574    (1,184  190,851    7,933    18,853    164,065  
 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

    

       

Total

 $206,420   $574   $(1,328 $205,666   $21,120   $20,481   $164,065  
 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

 December 31, 2016
 
Adjusted
Cost
 
Unrealized
Gains
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
Cash and
Cash
Equivalents
 
Short-Term
Marketable
Securities
 
Long-Term
Marketable
Securities
Cash$9,359
 $
 $
 $9,359
 $9,359
 $
 $
              
Level 1 (1):
             
Money market funds4,640
 
 
 4,640
 4,640
 
 
Mutual funds1,004
 
 (137) 867
 
 867
 
Subtotal5,644
 
 (137) 5,507
 4,640
 867
 
              
Level 2 (2):
             
U.S. Treasury securities48,431
 47
 (333) 48,145
 1,022
 13,074
 34,049
U.S. agency securities4,284
 4
 (10) 4,278
 404
 1,999
 1,875
Non-U.S. government securities7,574
 79
 (136) 7,517
 
 408
 7,109
Certificates of deposit and time deposits5,893
 
 
 5,893
 334
 4,089
 1,470
Commercial paper3,750
 
 
 3,750
 536
 3,214
 
Corporate securities140,697
 469
 (737) 140,429
 76
 20,283
 120,070
Municipal securities955
 
 (9) 946
 
 111
 835
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities20,486
 23
 (243) 20,266
 
 36
 20,230
Subtotal232,070
 622
 (1,468) 231,224
 2,372
 43,214
 185,638
              
Total$247,073
 $622
 $(1,605) $246,090
 $16,371
 $44,081
 $185,638


 September 24, 2016
 
Adjusted
Cost
 
Unrealized
Gains
 
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
Cash and
Cash
Equivalents
 
Short-Term
Marketable
Securities
 
Long-Term
Marketable
Securities
Cash$8,601
 $
 $
 $8,601
 $8,601
 $
 $
              
Level 1 (1):
             
Money market funds3,666
 
 
 3,666
 3,666
 
 
Mutual funds1,407
 
 (146) 1,261
 
 1,261
 
Subtotal5,073
 
 (146) 4,927
 3,666
 1,261
 
              
Level 2 (2):
             
U.S. Treasury securities41,697
 319
 (4) 42,012
 1,527
 13,492
 26,993
U.S. agency securities7,543
 16
 
 7,559
 2,762
 2,441
 2,356
Non-U.S. government securities7,609
 259
 (27) 7,841
 110
 818
 6,913
Certificates of deposit and time deposits6,598
 
 
 6,598
 1,108
 3,897
 1,593
Commercial paper7,433
 
 
 7,433
 2,468
 4,965
 
Corporate securities131,166
 1,409
 (206) 132,369
 242
 19,599
 112,528
Municipal securities956
 5
 
 961
 
 167
 794
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities19,134
 178
 (28) 19,284
 
 31
 19,253
Subtotal222,136
 2,186
 (265) 224,057
 8,217
 45,410
 170,430
              
Total$235,810
 $2,186
 $(411) $237,585
 $20,484
 $46,671
 $170,430
(1)

TheLevel 1 fair value of Level 1 securities is estimatedestimates are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

(2)

TheLevel 2 fair value of Level 2 securities is estimatedestimates are based on observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.


The Company may sell certain of its marketable securities prior to their stated maturities for strategic reasons including, but not limited to, anticipation of credit deterioration and duration management. The maturities of the Company’s long-term marketable securities generally range from one to five years.

The Company considers the declines in market value of its marketable securities investment portfolio to be temporary in nature. The Company typically invests in highly-rated securities, and its investment policy generally limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer. The policy generally requires investments to be investment grade, with the primary objective of minimizing the potential risk of principal loss. Fair values were determined for each individual security in the investment portfolio. When evaluating an investment for other-than-temporary impairment the Company reviews factors such as the length of time and extent to which fair value has been below its cost basis, the financial condition of the issuer and any changes thereto, changes in market interest rates and the Company’s intent to sell, or whether it is more likely than not it will be required to sell the investment before recovery of the investment’s cost basis. As of March 26,December 31, 2016, the Company does not consider any of its investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company may use derivatives to partially offset its business exposure to foreign currency and interest rate risk on expected future cash flows, on net investments in certain foreign subsidiaries and on certain existing assets and liabilities. However, the Company may choose not to hedge certain exposures for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to, accounting considerations and the prohibitive economic cost of hedging particular exposures. There can be no assurance the hedges will offset more than a portion of the financial impact resulting from movements in foreign currency exchange or interest rates.

To help protect gross margins from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries whose functional currency is the U.S. dollar may hedge a portion of forecasted foreign currency revenue, and subsidiaries whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar and who sell in local currencies may hedge a portion of forecasted inventory purchases not denominated in the subsidiaries’ functional currencies. The Company may enter into forward contracts, option contracts or other instruments to manage this risk and may designate these instruments as cash flow hedges. The Company typically hedges portions of its forecasted foreign currency exposure associated with revenue and inventory purchases, typically for up to 12 months.


To help protect the net investment in a foreign operation from adverse changes in foreign currency exchange rates, the Company may enter into foreign currency forward and option contracts to offset the changes in the carrying amounts of these investments due to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. In addition, the Company may use non-derivative financial instruments, such as its foreign currency-denominated debt, as economic hedges of its net investments in certain foreign subsidiaries. In both of these cases, the Company designates these instruments as net investment hedges.

The Company may also enter into non-designated foreign currency contracts to partially offset the foreign currency exchange gains and losses generated by the re-measurement of certain assets and liabilities denominated in non-functional currencies.

The Company may enter into interest rate swaps, options, or other instruments to manage interest rate risk. These instruments may offset a portion of changes in income or expense, or changes in fair value of the Company’s term debt or investments. The Company designates these instruments as either cash flow or fair value hedges. The Company’s hedged interest rate transactions as of March 26,December 31, 2016 are expected to be recognized within ten10 years.

Cash Flow Hedges

The effective portions of cash flow hedges are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. Deferred gains and losses associated with cash flow hedges of foreign currency revenue are recognized as a component of net sales in the same period as the related revenue is recognized, and deferred gains and losses related to cash flow hedges of inventory purchases are recognized as a component of cost of sales in the same period as the related costs are recognized. Deferred gains and losses associated with cash flow hedges of interest income or expense are recognized in other income/(expense), net in the same period as the related income or expense is recognized. The ineffective portions and amounts excluded from the effectiveness testing of cash flow hedges are recognized in other income/(expense), net.

Derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges must be de-designated as hedges when it is probable the forecasted hedged transaction will not occur in the initially identified time period or within a subsequent two-month time period. Deferred gains and losses in AOCI associated with such derivative instruments are reclassified immediately into other income/(expense), net. Any subsequent changes in fair value of such derivative instruments are reflected in other income/(expense), net unless they are re-designated as hedges of other transactions.

Net Investment Hedges

The effective portions of net investment hedges are recorded in other comprehensive income (“OCI”) as a part of the cumulative translation adjustment. The ineffective portions and amounts excluded from the effectiveness testing of net investment hedges are recognized in other income/(expense), net.

Fair Value Hedges

Gains and losses related to changes in fair value hedges are recognized in earnings along with a corresponding loss or gain related to the change in value of the underlying hedged item.

Non-Designated Derivatives

Derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments are adjusted to fair value through earnings in the financial statement line item to which the derivative relates.

As a result, during the three months ended December 31, 2016, the Company recognized gains in net sales, cost of sales and other income/(expense), net of $273 million, $332 million and $508 million, respectively.

The Company records all derivatives in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value. The Company’s accounting treatment for these derivative instruments is based on its hedge designation. The following tables show the Company’s derivative instruments at gross fair value as of March 26,December 31, 2016 and September 26, 201524, 2016 (in millions):

                                                                                                            
   March 26, 2016 
   Fair Value of
Derivatives Designated
as Hedge Instruments
   Fair Value of
Derivatives Not Designated
as Hedge Instruments
   Total
Fair Value
 

Derivative assets(1):

  

Foreign exchange contracts

  $564    $69    $633  

Interest rate contracts

  $557    $0    $557  

    

      

Derivative liabilities(2):

      

Foreign exchange contracts

  $1,033    $243    $1,276  

Interest rate contracts

  $36    $0    $36  

                                                                                                            
   September 26, 2015 
   Fair Value of
Derivatives Designated

as Hedge Instruments
   Fair Value of
Derivatives Not Designated
as Hedge Instruments
   Total
Fair Value
 

Derivative assets(1):

  

Foreign exchange contracts

  $1,442    $109    $1,551  

Interest rate contracts

  $394    $0    $394  

    

      

Derivative liabilities(2):

      

Foreign exchange contracts

  $905    $94    $999  

Interest rate contracts

  $13    $0    $13  

 December 31, 2016
 
Fair Value of
Derivatives Designated
as Hedge Instruments
 
Fair Value of
Derivatives Not Designated
as Hedge Instruments
 
Total
Fair Value
Derivative assets (1):
     
Foreign exchange contracts$1,453
 $1,104
 $2,557
Interest rate contracts$186
 $
 $186
      
Derivative liabilities (2):
     
Foreign exchange contracts$977
 $536
 $1,513
Interest rate contracts$331
 $
 $331

 September 24, 2016
 
Fair Value of
Derivatives Designated
as Hedge Instruments
 
Fair Value of
Derivatives Not Designated
as Hedge Instruments
 
Total
Fair Value
Derivative assets (1):
     
Foreign exchange contracts$518
 $153
 $671
Interest rate contracts$728
 $
 $728
      
Derivative liabilities (2):
     
Foreign exchange contracts$935
 $134
 $1,069
Interest rate contracts$7
 $
 $7

(1)

The fair value of derivative assets is measured using Level 2 fair value inputs and is recorded as other current assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(2)

The fair value of derivative liabilities is measured using Level 2 fair value inputs and is recorded as accrued expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.


The following table shows the pre-tax gains and losses of the Company’s derivative and non-derivative instruments designated as cash flow, net investment and fair value hedges onin OCI and the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three- and six-month periodsthree months ended March 26,December 31, 2016 and March 28,December 26, 2015 (in millions):

                                                                                                
   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
 

Gains/(Losses) recognized in OCI – effective portion:

        

Cash flow hedges:

        

Foreign exchange contracts

  $(138  $1,249    $188    $3,750  

Interest rate contracts

   (50   (87   (42   (91
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $(188  $1,162    $146    $3,659  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

    

        

Net investment hedges:

        

Foreign exchange contracts

  $0    $(6  $0    $112  

Foreign currency debt

   (87   0     (77   0  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $(87  $(6  $(77  $112  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

    

        

Gains/(Losses) reclassified from AOCI into net income – effective portion:

        

Cash flow hedges:

        

Foreign exchange contracts

  $668    $818    $1,183    $1,485  

Interest rate contracts

   (3   (5   (7   (9
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $665    $813    $1,176    $1,476  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

    

        

Gains/(Losses) on derivative instruments:

        

Fair value hedges:

        

Interest rate contracts

  $250    $122    $139    $239  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

    

        

Gains/(Losses) related to hedged items:

        

Fair value hedges:

        

Interest rate contracts

  $(250  $(122  $(139  $(239
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
Gains/(Losses) recognized in OCI – effective portion:   
Cash flow hedges:   
Foreign exchange contracts$1,727
 $326
Interest rate contracts7
 8
Total$1,734
 $334
    
Net investment hedges:   
Foreign exchange contracts$
 $
Foreign currency debt122
 10
Total$122
 $10
    
Gains/(Losses) reclassified from AOCI into net income – effective portion:   
Cash flow hedges:   
Foreign exchange contracts$(511) $515
Interest rate contracts(1) (4)
Total$(512) $511
    
Gains/(Losses) on derivative instruments:   
Fair value hedges:   
Interest rate contracts$(872) $(111)
    
Gains/(Losses) related to hedged items:   
Fair value hedges:   
Interest rate contracts$872
 $111

The following table shows the notional amounts of the Company’s outstanding derivative instruments and credit risk amounts associated with outstanding or unsettled derivative instruments as of March 26,December 31, 2016 and September 26, 201524, 2016 (in millions):

                                                                                                
   March 26, 2016   September 26, 2015 
   Notional
Amount
   Credit Risk
Amount
   Notional
Amount
   Credit Risk
Amount
 

Instruments designated as accounting hedges:

        

Foreign exchange contracts

  $41,996    $564    $70,054    $1,385  

Interest rate contracts

  $23,750    $557    $18,750    $394  

    

        

Instruments not designated as accounting hedges:

        

Foreign exchange contracts

  $30,573    $69    $49,190    $109  

 December 31, 2016 September 24, 2016
 
Notional
Amount
 
Credit Risk
Amount
 
Notional
Amount
 
Credit Risk
Amount
Instruments designated as accounting hedges:       
Foreign exchange contracts$40,526
 $1,453
 $44,678
 $518
Interest rate contracts$24,500
 $186
 $24,500
 $728
        
Instruments not designated as accounting hedges:       
Foreign exchange contracts$57,144
 $1,104
 $54,305
 $153
The notional amounts for outstanding derivative instruments provide one measure of the transaction volume outstanding and do not represent the amount of the Company’s exposure to credit or market loss. The credit risk amounts represent the Company’s gross exposure to potential accounting loss on derivative instruments that are outstanding or unsettled if all counterparties failed to perform according to the terms of the contract, based onthen-current currency or interest rates at each respective date. The Company’s exposure to credit loss and market risk will vary over time as currency and interest rates change. Although the table above reflects the notional and credit risk amounts of the Company’s derivative instruments, it does not reflect the gains or losses associated with the exposures and transactions that the instruments are intended to hedge. The amounts ultimately realized upon settlement of these financial instruments, together with the gains and losses on the underlying exposures, will depend on actual market conditions during the remaining life of the instruments.

The Company generally enters into master netting arrangements, which are designed to reduce credit risk by permitting net settlement of transactions with the same counterparty. To further limit credit risk, the Company generally enters into collateral security arrangements that provide for collateral to be received or posted when the net fair value of certain financial instruments fluctuates from contractually established thresholds. The Company presents its derivative assets and derivative liabilities at their gross fair values in its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of March 26, 2016, the net cash collateral posted by the Company related to derivative instruments under its collateral security arrangements was $3 million, which was recorded as other current assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of September 26, 2015, theThe net cash collateral received by the Company related to derivative instruments under its collateral security arrangements was $1.0$1.1 billion as of December 31, 2016 and $163 million as of September 24, 2016, which waswere recorded as accrued expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Sheets.

Under master netting arrangements with the respective counterparties to the Company’s derivative contracts, the Company is allowed to net settle transactions with a single net amount payable by one party to the other. As of March 26,December 31, 2016 and September 26, 2015,24, 2016, the potential effects of these rights of set-off associated with the Company’s derivative contracts, including the effects of collateral, would be a reduction to both derivative assets and derivative liabilities of $1.4$2.7 billion and $2.2$1.5 billion, respectively, resulting in a net derivative liabilitiesliability of $119$222 million and $78a net derivative asset of $160 million, respectively.

Accounts Receivable

Trade Receivables

The Company has considerable trade receivables outstanding with its third-party cellular network carriers, wholesalers, retailers, value-added resellers, small and mid-sized businesses and education, enterprise and government customers. The Company generally does not require collateral from its customers; however, the Company will require collateral in certain instances to limit credit risk. In addition, when possible, the Company attempts to limit credit risk on trade receivables with credit insurance for certain customers that are not coveredor by collateral,requiring third-party financing, loans or leases to support credit exposure. These credit-financing arrangements are directly between the third-party financing company and the end customer. As such, the Company generally does not assume any recourse or credit insurance. risk sharing related to any of these arrangements.
As of March 26,December 31, 2016 and September 26, 2015,24, 2016, the Company had one customer that represented 12%10% or more of total trade receivables.receivables, which accounted for 11% and 10%, respectively. The Company’s cellular network carriers accounted for 55% and 71%63% of trade receivables as of March 26,December 31, 2016 and September 26, 2015,24, 2016, respectively.

Vendor Non-Trade Receivables

The Company has non-trade receivables from certain of its manufacturing vendors resulting from the sale of components to these vendors who manufacture sub-assemblies or assemble final products for the Company. The Company purchases these components directly from suppliers. Vendor non-trade receivables from three of the Company’s vendors accounted for 55%49%, 14% and 11%13% of total vendor non-trade receivables as of March 26,December 31, 2016, and threetwo of the Company’s vendors accounted for 38%, 18%47% and 14%21% of total vendor non-trade receivables as of September 26, 2015.

24, 2016.

Note 3 – Condensed Consolidated Financial Statement Details

The following tables show the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statement details as of March 26,December 31, 2016 and September 26, 201524, 2016 (in millions):

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net

                                                                
   March 26,
2016
   September 26,
2015
 

Land and buildings

  $8,391    $6,956  

Machinery, equipment and internal-use software

   39,723     37,038  

Leasehold improvements

   5,937     5,263  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross property, plant and equipment

   54,051     49,257  

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

   (30,848   (26,786
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total property, plant and equipment, net

  $23,203    $22,471  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 December 31,
2016
 September 24,
2016
Land and buildings$10,932
 $10,185
Machinery, equipment and internal-use software45,309
 44,543
Leasehold improvements6,518
 6,517
Gross property, plant and equipment62,759
 61,245
Accumulated depreciation and amortization(36,249) (34,235)
Total property, plant and equipment, net$26,510
 $27,010
Other Non-Current Liabilities

                                                                
   March 26,
2016
   September 26,
2015
 

Deferred tax liabilities

  $22,955    $24,062  

Other non-current liabilities

   10,904     9,365  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other non-current liabilities

  $33,859    $33,427  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 December 31,
2016
 September 24,
2016
Deferred tax liabilities$26,948
 $26,019
Other non-current liabilities10,953
 10,055
Total other non-current liabilities$37,901
 $36,074
Other Income/(Expense), Net

The following table shows the detail of other income/(expense), net for the three- and six-month periodsthree months ended March 26,December 31, 2016 and March 28,December 26, 2015 (in millions):

                                                                                                
   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
 

Interest and dividend income

  $986    $675    $1,927    $1,329  

Interest expense

   (321   (163   (597   (294

Other expense, net

   (510   (226   (773   (579
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other income/(expense), net

  $155    $286    $557    $456  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
Interest and dividend income$1,224
 $941
Interest expense(525) (276)
Other income/(expense), net122
 (263)
Total other income/(expense), net$821
 $402

Note 4 – Acquired Intangible Assets

The Company’s acquired intangible assets with definite useful lives primarily consist of patents and licenses and are amortized over periods typically from three to seven years.licenses. The following table summarizes the components of gross and net acquired intangible asset balances as of March 26,December 31, 2016 and September 26, 201524, 2016 (in millions):

                                                                                                      
   March 26, 2016   September 26, 2015 
   Gross
Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
   Net
Carrying
Amount
   Gross
Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
   Net
Carrying
Amount
 

Definite-lived and amortizable acquired intangible assets

  $8,797    $(5,054  $3,743    $8,125    $(4,332  $3,793  

Indefinite-lived and non-amortizable acquired intangible assets

   100     0     100     100     0     100  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total acquired intangible assets

  $8,897    $(5,054  $3,843    $8,225    $(4,332  $3,893  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 December 31, 2016 September 24, 2016
 
Gross
Carrying Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Net 
Carrying Amount
 
Gross
Carrying Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Net 
Carrying Amount
Definite-lived and amortizable acquired intangible assets$7,472
 $(4,724) $2,748
 $8,912
 $(5,806) $3,106
Indefinite-lived and non-amortizable acquired intangible assets100
 
 100
 100
 
 100
Total acquired intangible assets$7,572
 $(4,724) $2,848
 $9,012
 $(5,806) $3,206


Note 5 – Income Taxes

As of March 26,December 31, 2016, the Company recorded gross unrecognized tax benefits of $7.5$8.5 billion, of which $2.8$3.0 billion, if recognized, would affect the Company’s effective tax rate. As of September 26, 2015,24, 2016, the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits was $6.9$7.7 billion, of which $2.5$2.8 billion, if recognized, would have affected the Company’s effective tax rate. The Company’s total gross unrecognized tax benefits are classified as other non-current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company had $1.5$1.2 billion and $1.3$1.0 billion of gross interest and penalties accrued as of March 26,December 31, 2016 and September 26, 2015,24, 2016, respectively, which are classified as other non-current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Management

The Company believes that an adequate provision has been made for any adjustments that may result from tax examinations. However, the outcome of tax audits cannot be predicted with certainty. If any issues addressed in the Company’s tax audits are resolved in a manner not consistent with management’sits expectations, the Company could be required to adjust its provision for income taxes in the period such resolution occurs. Although timing of the resolution and/or closure of audits is not certain, the Company believes it is reasonably possible that its gross unrecognized tax benefits could decrease (whether by payment, release or a combination of both) in the next 12 months by as much as $800 million.

$1.1 billion.

On June 11, 2014,August 30, 2016, the European Commission issued an openingannounced its decision initiating a formal investigation againstthat Ireland for allegedgranted state aid to the Company. The opening decision concernsCompany by providing tax opinions in 1991 and 2007 concerning the tax allocation of profits for taxation purposes of the Irish branches of two subsidiaries of the Company.Company (the “State Aid Decision”). The State Aid Decision orders Ireland to calculate and recover additional taxes from the Company for the period June 2003 through December 2014. Irish legislative changes, effective as of January 2015, eliminated the application of the tax opinions from that date forward. The Company believes the State Aid Decision to be without merit and appealed to the General Court of the Court of Justice of the European Commission’s assertions are without merit. IfUnion. Ireland has also appealed the State Aid Decision. While the European Commission were to conclude against Ireland, the European Commission could require Ireland to recover from the Company past taxes coveringannounced a periodrecovery amount of up to 10 years reflective€13 billion, plus interest, the actual amount of additional taxes subject to recovery is to be calculated by Ireland in accordance with the disallowed state aid. While suchEuropean Commission's guidance. Once the recovery amount could be material, as of March 26, 2016is computed by Ireland, the Company is unableanticipates funding it, including interest, out of foreign cash into escrow, where it will remain pending conclusion of all appeals. The Company believes that any incremental Irish corporate income taxes potentially due related to estimate the impact.

State Aid Decision would be creditable against U.S. taxes.

Note 6 – Debt

Commercial Paper

The Company issues unsecured short-term promissory notes (“Commercial Paper”) pursuant to a commercial paper program. The Company uses net proceeds from the commercial paper program for general corporate purposes, including dividends and share repurchases. As of March 26,December 31, 2016 and September 26, 2015,24, 2016, the Company had $8.0$10.5 billion and $8.5$8.1 billion of Commercial Paper outstanding, respectively, with maturities generally less than nine months. The weighted-average interest rate of the Company’s Commercial Paper was 0.39%0.61% as of March 26,December 31, 2016 and 0.14%0.45% as of September 26, 2015.

24, 2016.

The following table provides a summary of cash flows associated with the issuance and maturities of Commercial Paper for the sixthree months ended March 26,December 31, 2016 and March 28,December 26, 2015 (in millions):

                                                
   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
 

Maturities less than 90 days:

    

Proceeds from (repayments of) commercial paper, net

  $660    $985  

Maturities greater than 90 days:

    

Proceeds from commercial paper

   669     547  

Repayments of commercial paper

   (1,832   (4,040
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Proceeds from (repayments of) commercial paper, net

   (1,163   (3,493
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total change in commercial paper, net

  $(503  $(2,508
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
Maturities less than 90 days:   
Proceeds from/(Repayments of) commercial paper, net$1,550
 $(393)
    
Maturities greater than 90 days:   
Proceeds from commercial paper2,544
 492
Repayments of commercial paper(1,709) (1,339)
Proceeds from/(Repayments of) commercial paper, net835
 (847)
    
Total change in commercial paper, net$2,385
 $(1,240)

Long-Term Debt

As of March 26,December 31, 2016, the Company had outstanding floating- and fixed-rate notes with varying maturities for an aggregate principal amount of $71.3$77.4 billion (collectively the “Notes”). The Notes are senior unsecured obligations, and interest is payable in arrears, quarterly for the U.S. dollar-denominated and Australian dollar-denominated floating-rate notes, semi-annually for the U.S. dollar-denominated, Australian dollar-denominated, British pound-denominated and Japanese yen-denominated fixed-rate notes and annually for the euro-denominated and Swiss franc-denominated fixed-rate notes. The following table provides a summary of the Company’s term debt as of March 26,December 31, 2016 and September 26, 2015:

                                                                                                                        
     March, 26, 2016  September 26, 2015 
  Maturities  Amount
(in millions)
  Effective
Interest Rate
  Amount
(in millions)
  Effective
Interest Rate
 

2013 debt issuance of $17.0 billion:

     

Floating-rate notes

  2016 - 2018   $3,000    0.51% - 1.10%   $3,000    0.51% - 1.10%  

Fixed-rate 0.45% - 3.85% notes

  2016 - 2043    14,000    0.51% - 3.91%    14,000    0.51% - 3.91%  
     

2014 debt issuance of $12.0 billion:

     

Floating-rate notes

  2017 - 2019    2,000    0.69% - 0.92%    2,000    0.37% - 0.60%  

Fixed-rate 1.05% - 4.45% notes

  2017 - 2044    10,000    0.69% - 4.48%    10,000    0.37% - 4.48%  
     

2015 debt issuances of $27.3 billion:

     

Floating-rate notes

  2017 - 2020    1,781    0.67% - 1.87%    1,743    0.36% - 1.87%  

Fixed-rate 0.35% - 4.375% notes

  2017 - 2045    25,063    0.28% - 4.51%    24,958    0.28% - 4.51%  
     

Second quarter 2016 debt issuance of $15.5 billion:

     

Floating-rate notes

  2019    500    1.44%    0    0  

Floating-rate notes

  2021    500    1.75%    0    0  

Fixed-rate 1.30% notes

  2018    500    1.32%    0    0  

Fixed-rate 1.70% notes

  2019    1,000    1.71%    0    0  

Fixed-rate 2.25% notes

  2021    3,000    1.80%    0    0  

Fixed-rate 2.85% notes

  2023    1,500    2.48%    0    0  

Fixed-rate 3.25% notes

  2026    3,250    2.33%    0    0  

Fixed-rate 4.50% notes

  2036    1,250    4.54%    0    0  

Fixed-rate 4.65% notes

  2046    4,000    4.58%    0    0  
  

 

 

   

 

 

  

Total debt issuance

   15,500     0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

  

Total term debt

   71,344     55,701   

Unamortized premium/(discount)

   15     (114 

Hedge accounting fair value adjustments

   515     376   

Less: Current portion of long-term debt

   (2,500   (2,500 
  

 

 

   

 

 

  

Total long-term debt

  $69,374    $53,463   
  

 

 

   

 

 

  

During the second quarter of 2016, the Company issued $15.5 billion U.S. dollar-denominated notes. To manage interest rate risk on the U.S. dollar-denominated fixed-rate notes maturing in 2021, 2023 and 2026, the Company entered into interest rate swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $5.0 billion, which effectively converted a portion of the fixed interest rates on these notes to a floating interest rate.

24, 2016:

 Maturities December 31, 2016 September 24, 2016
 
Amount
(in millions)
 
Effective
Interest Rate
 
Amount
(in millions)
 
Effective
Interest Rate
2013 debt issuance of $17.0 billion:         
Floating-rate notes2018 $2,000
 1.10% $2,000
 1.10%
Fixed-rate 1.000% - 3.850% notes2018 - 2043 12,500
 1.08% - 3.91% 12,500
 1.08% - 3.91%
          
2014 debt issuance of $12.0 billion:         
Floating-rate notes2017 - 2019 2,000
 0.95% - 1.18% 2,000
 0.86% - 1.09%
Fixed-rate 1.050% - 4.450% notes2017 - 2044 10,000
 0.95% - 4.48% 10,000
 0.85% - 4.48%
          
2015 debt issuances of $27.3 billion:         
Floating-rate notes2017 - 2020 1,753
 0.95% - 1.87% 1,781
 0.87% - 1.87%
Fixed-rate 0.350% - 4.375% notes2017 - 2045 24,225
 0.28% - 4.51% 25,144
 0.28% - 4.51%
          
2016 debt issuances of $24.9 billion:         
Floating-rate notes2019 - 2021 1,350
 1.02% - 2.05% 1,350
 0.91% - 1.95%
Fixed-rate 1.100% - 4.650% notes2018 - 2046 23,550
 1.13% - 4.78% 23,609
 1.13% - 4.58%
Total term debt  77,378
   78,384
  
          
Unamortized premium/(discount) and issuance costs, net  (166)   (174)  
Hedge accounting fair value adjustments  (156)   717
  
Less: Current portion of long-term debt  (3,499)   (3,500)  
Total long-term debt  $73,557
   $75,427
  
As of March 26,December 31, 2016 ¥149.3and September 24, 2016, ¥90.4 billion and ¥195.5 billion, respectively, of Japanese yen-denominated notes waswere designated as a hedge of the foreign currency exposure of itsthe Company's net investment in a foreign operation. The foreign currency transaction gain or loss on the Japanese yen-denominated debt designated as a hedge is recorded in OCI as a part of the cumulative translation adjustment. As of March 26,December 31, 2016 and September 26, 2015,24, 2016, the carrying value of the debt designated as a net investment hedge was $1.3 billion$767 million and $2.1$1.9 billion, respectively. For further discussion regarding the Company’s use of derivative instruments see the Derivative Financial Instruments section of Note 2, “Financial Instruments.”

The effective interest rates for the Notes include the interest on the Notes, amortization of the discount and, if applicable, adjustments related to hedging. The Company recognized $311$509 million and $582$271 million of interest expense on its term debt for the three-three months ended December 31, 2016 and six-month periods ended MarchDecember 26, 2016, respectively. The Company recognized $161 million and $289 million of interest expense on its term debt for the three- and six-month periods ended March 28, 2015, respectively.

As of March 26,December 31, 2016 and September 26, 2015,24, 2016, the fair value of the Company’s Notes, based on Level 2 inputs, was $72.4$77.7 billion and $54.9$81.7 billion, respectively.


Note 7 – Shareholders’ Equity

Dividends

The Company declared and paid cash dividends per share during the periods presented as follows:

                                                
   Dividends
Per Share
   Amount
(in millions)
 

2016:

    

Second quarter

  $0.52    $2,879  

First quarter

   0.52     2,898  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total cash dividends declared and paid

  $1.04    $5,777  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

    

    

2015:

    

Fourth quarter

  $0.52    $2,950  

Third quarter

   0.52     2,997  

Second quarter

   0.47     2,734  

First quarter

   0.47     2,750  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total cash dividends declared and paid

  $1.98    $11,431  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 
Dividends
Per Share
 
Amount
(in millions)
2017:   
First quarter$0.57
 $3,042
    
2016:   
Fourth quarter$0.57
 $3,071
Third quarter0.57
 3,117
Second quarter0.52
 2,879
First quarter0.52
 2,898
Total cash dividends declared and paid$2.18
 $11,965
Future dividends are subject to declaration by the Board of Directors.

Share Repurchase Program

In 2015,April 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors increased the share repurchase authorization from $140 billion to $140$175 billion of the Company’s common stock, of which $117$144 billion had been utilized as of March 26,December 31, 2016. The Company’s share repurchase program does not obligate it to acquire any specific number of shares. Under the program, shares may be repurchased in privately negotiated and/or open market transactions, including under plans complying with Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

The Company has entered, and in the future may enter, into accelerated share repurchase arrangements (“ASRs”) with financial institutions. In exchange for up-front payments, the financial institutions deliver shares of the Company’s common stock during the purchase periods of each ASR. The total number of shares ultimately delivered, and therefore the average repurchase price paid per share, is determined at the end of the applicable purchase period of each ASR based on the volume weighted-averagevolume-weighted average price of the Company’s common stock during that period. The shares received are retired in the periods they are delivered, and the up-front payments are accounted for as a reduction to shareholders’ equity in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets in the periods the payments are made. The Company reflects the ASRs as a repurchase of common stock in the period delivered for purposes of calculating earnings per share and as forward contracts indexed to its own common stock. The ASRs met all of the applicable criteria for equity classification, and therefore were not accounted for as derivative instruments.

The following table shows the Company’s ASR activity and related information during the sixthree months ended March 26,December 31, 2016 and the year ended September 26, 2015:

                                                                                                
   Purchase Period
End Date
   Number of Shares
(in thousands)
   Average
Repurchase Price
Per Share
   ASR Amount
(in millions)
 

November 2015 ASR

   April 2016     20,382 (1)    $ (1)    $3,000  

May 2015 ASR

   July 2015     48,293        $124.24        $6,000  

August 2014 ASR

   February 2015     81,525        $110.40        $9,000  

January 2014 ASR

   December 2014     134,247        $89.39        $12,000  

24, 2016:
 
Purchase Period
End Date
 
Number of Shares
(in thousands)
 
Average Repurchase
Price Per Share
 
ASR Amount
(in millions)
November 2016 ASRFebruary 2017 44,814
(1) 
(1) 

 $6,000
August 2016 ASRNovember 2016 26,850
(2) 
$111.73
 $3,000
May 2016 ASRAugust 2016 60,452
 $99.25
 $6,000
November 2015 ASRApril 2016 29,122
 $103.02
 $3,000
(1)

“Number of Shares” represents those shares delivered in the beginning of the purchase period and does not represent the final number of shares to be delivered under the ASR. The total number of shares ultimately delivered, and therefore the average repurchase price paid per share, will be determined at the end of the applicable purchase period based on the volume-weighted average price of the Company’s common stock during that period. The November 20152016 ASR purchase period will end in or before April 2016.

February 2017.

(2)
Includes 22.5 million shares delivered and retired at the beginning of the purchase period, which began in the fourth quarter of 2016 and 4.4 million shares delivered and retired at the end of the purchase period, which concluded in the first quarter of 2017.


Additionally, the Company repurchased shares of its common stock in the open market, which were retired upon repurchase, during the periods presented as follows:

                                                                        
   Number of Shares
(in thousands)
   Average Repurchase
Price Per Share
   Amount
(in millions)
 

2016:

      

Second quarter

   71,766    $97.54    $7,000  

First quarter

   25,984    $115.45     3,000  
  

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total open market common stock repurchases

   97,750      $10,000  
  

 

 

     

 

 

 

    

      

2015:

      

Fourth quarter

   121,802    $115.15    $14,026  

Third quarter

   31,231    $128.08     4,000  

Second quarter

   56,400    $124.11     7,000  

First quarter

   45,704    $109.40     5,000  
  

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total open market common stock repurchases

   255,137      $30,026  
  

 

 

     

 

 

 
 
Number of Shares
(in thousands)
 
Average Repurchase
Price Per Share
 
Amount
(in millions)
2017:     
First quarter44,333
 $112.78
 $5,000
      
2016:     
Fourth quarter28,579
 $104.97
 $3,000
Third quarter41,238
 $97.00
 4,000
Second quarter71,766
 $97.54
 7,000
First quarter25,984
 $115.45
 3,000
Total open market common stock repurchases167,567
   $17,000

Note 8 – Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income consists of two components, net income and OCI. OCI refers to revenue, expenses, and gains and losses that under GAAP are recorded as an element of shareholders’ equity but are excluded from net income. The Company’s OCI consists of foreign currency translation adjustments from those subsidiaries not using the U.S. dollar as their functional currency, net deferred gains and losses on certain derivative instruments accounted for as cash flow hedges and unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities classified as available-for-sale.

The following table shows the pre-tax amounts reclassified from AOCI into the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, and the associated financial statement line item, for the three- and six-month periodsthree months ended March 26,December 31, 2016 and March 28,December 26, 2015 (in millions):

                                                                                          
      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 

Comprehensive Income Components

  

Financial Statement

Line Item

  March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
 

Unrealized (gains)/losses on derivative instruments:

          

Foreign exchange contracts

  Revenue  $(325  $(558  $(654  $(1,007
  Cost of sales   (219   (608   (525   (921
  Other income/(expense), net   (131   348     (11   443  

Interest rate contracts

  Other income/(expense), net   3     4     7     8  
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     (672   (814   (1,183   (1,477

Unrealized (gains)/losses on marketable securities

  Other income/(expense), net   76     56     149     34  
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total amounts reclassified from AOCI

    $(596  $(758  $(1,034  $(1,443
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

    Three Months Ended
Comprehensive Income Components Financial Statement Line Item December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
Unrealized (gains)/losses on derivative instruments:      
Foreign exchange contracts Revenue $(101) $(329)
  Cost of sales 13
 (306)
  Other income/(expense), net 604
 120
Interest rate contracts Other income/(expense), net 1
 4
    517
 (511)
Unrealized (gains)/losses on marketable securities Other income/(expense), net 31
 73
Total amounts reclassified from AOCI $548
 $(438)
The following table shows the changes in AOCI by component for the sixthree months ended March 26,December 31, 2016 (in millions):

                                                                                                
   Cumulative
Foreign
Currency
Translation
   Unrealized
Gains/Losses
on Derivative
Instruments
   Unrealized
Gains/Losses
on Marketable
Securities
   Total 

Balance at September 26, 2015

  $(653  $772    $(464  $(345
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications

   18     146     69     233  

Amounts reclassified from AOCI

   0     (1,183   149     (1,034

Tax effect

   0     173     (75   98  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income/(loss)

   18     (864   143     (703
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at March 26, 2016

  $(635  $(92  $(321  $(1,048
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 
Cumulative Foreign
Currency Translation
 
Unrealized Gains/Losses
on Derivative Instruments
 
Unrealized Gains/Losses
on Marketable Securities
 Total
Balance at September 24, 2016$(578) $38
 $1,174
 $634
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications(451) 1,696
 (2,797) (1,552)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI
 517
 31
 548
Tax effect76
 (439) 978
 615
Other comprehensive income/(loss)(375) 1,774
 (1,788) (389)
Balance at December 31, 2016$(953) $1,812
 $(614) $245

Note 9 – Benefit Plans

Stock Plans

The Company had 377.3316.4 million shares reserved for future issuance under its stock plans as of March 26,December 31, 2016. RSUs granted generally vest over four years, based on continued employment, and are settled upon vesting in shares of the Company’s common stock on a one-for-one basis. Each share issued with respect to RSUs granted under the Company’s stock plans reduces the number of shares available for grant under the plan by two shares. RSUs cancelled and shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations increase the number of shares available for grant under the plans utilizing a factor of two times the number of RSUs cancelled or shares withheld. Stock options count against the number of shares available for grant on a one-for-one basis.

Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans

During the three months ended March 26,December 31, 2016, Section 16 officers Timothy D. Cook, Angela Ahrendts, Luca Maestri, Daniel Riccio, Philip Schiller and Jeffrey Williams had equity trading plans in place in accordance with Rule 10b5-1(c)(1) under the Exchange Act. An equity trading plan is a written document that pre-establishes the amounts, prices and dates (or formula for determining the amounts, prices and dates) of future purchases or sales of the Company’s stock, including shares acquired pursuant to the Company’s employee and director equity plans.

Restricted Stock Units

A summary of the Company’s RSU activity and related information for the sixthree months ended March 26,December 31, 2016 is as follows:

                                                                        
   Number of
RSUs

(in thousands)
   Weighted-Average
Grant Date Fair
Value Per Share
   Aggregate
Intrinsic Value

(in millions)
 

Balance at September 26, 2015

   101,467    $85.77    

RSUs granted

   43,513    $110.57    

RSUs vested

   (22,353  $78.86    

RSUs cancelled

   (2,413  $93.43    
  

 

 

     

Balance at March 26, 2016

   120,214    $95.80    $12,703  
  

 

 

     

 
Number of
RSUs
(in thousands)
 
Weighted-Average
Grant Date Fair
Value Per Share
 
Aggregate Fair Value
(in millions)
Balance at September 24, 201699,089
 $97.54
  
RSUs granted42,882
 $117.95
  
RSUs vested(18,535) $92.65
  
RSUs cancelled(1,577) $105.01
  
Balance at December 31, 2016121,859
 $105.37
 $14,114
RSUs that vested during the three-three months ended December 31, 2016 and six-month periods ended MarchDecember 26, 2016 had fair values of $450 million and $2.5 billion, respectively, as of the vesting date. RSUs that vested during the three- and six-month periods ended March 28, 2015 had fair values of $317 million$2.2 billion and $2.0 billion, respectively, as of the vesting date.

Stock Options

The Company had 1.1 million stock options outstanding as of March 26, 2016, with a weighted-average exercise price per share of $15.48 and weighted-average remaining contractual term of 3.7 years, substantially all of which are exercisable. The aggregate intrinsic value of the stock options outstanding as of March 26, 2016 was $100 million, which represents the value of the Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day of the period in excess of the weighted-average exercise price multiplied by the number of options outstanding.

Share-Based Compensation

The following table shows a summary of the share-based compensation expense included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three- and six-month periodsthree months ended March 26,December 31, 2016 and March 28,December 26, 2015 (in millions):

                                                                                                
   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
 

Cost of sales

  $191    $142    $395    $282  

Research and development

   468     384     934     758  

Selling, general and administrative

   389     401     797     775  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total share-based compensation expense

  $1,048    $927    $2,126    $1,815  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
Cost of sales$229
 $204
Research and development589
 466
Selling, general and administrative438
 408
Total share-based compensation expense$1,256
 $1,078
The income tax benefit related to share-based compensation expense was $347$465 million and $760$413 million for the three-three months ended December 31, 2016 and six-month periods ended MarchDecember 26, 2016, respectively, and was $311 million and $662 million for the three- and six-month periods ended March 28, 2015, respectively. As of March 26,December 31, 2016, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding RSUs, restricted stock and stock options RSUs and restricted stock was $9.1$11.0 billion, which the Company expects to recognize over a weighted-average period of 2.9 years.


Note 10 – Commitments and Contingencies

Accrued Warranty and Indemnification

The following table shows changes in the Company’s accrued warranties and related costs for the three- and six-month periodsthree months ended March 26,December 31, 2016 and March 28,December 26, 2015 (in millions):

                                                                                                
   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
 

Beginning accrued warranty and related costs

  $5,236    $5,195    $4,780    $4,159  

Cost of warranty claims

   (1,128   (1,030   (2,397   (2,074

Accruals for product warranty

   877     978     2,602     3,058  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending accrued warranty and related costs

  $4,985    $5,143    $4,985    $5,143  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
Beginning accrued warranty and related costs$3,702
 $4,780
Cost of warranty claims(1,337) (1,269)
Accruals for product warranty2,333
 1,725
Ending accrued warranty and related costs$4,698
 $5,236
The Company generally does not indemnify end-users of its operating system and application software against legal claims that the software infringes third-party intellectual property rights. Other agreements entered into by the Company sometimes include indemnification provisions under which the Company could be subject to costs and/or damages in the event of an infringement claim against the Company or an indemnified third-party. In the opinion of management, there was not at least a reasonable possibility the Company may have incurred a material loss with respect to indemnification of end-users of its operating system or application software for infringement of third-party intellectual property rights.

The Company offers an iPhone Upgrade Program, which is available to customers who purchase ana qualifying iPhone 6sin the U.S., the U.K. and 6s Plus in one of its U.S. physical retail stores and activate the purchased iPhone with one of the four national carriers.mainland China. The iPhone Upgrade Program provides customers the right to trade in that iPhone for a specified amount when purchasing a new iPhone, provided certain conditions are met. One of the conditions of this program requires the customer to finance the initial purchase price of the iPhone with a third-party lender. Upon exercise of the trade-in right and purchase of a new iPhone, the Company satisfies the customer’s outstanding balance due to the third-party lender on the original device. The Company accounts for the trade-in right as a guarantee liability and recognizes arrangement revenue net of the fair value of such right with subsequent changes to the guarantee liability recognized within revenue.

The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and executive officers. Under these agreements, the Company has agreed to indemnify such individuals to the fullest extent permitted by law against liabilities that arise by reason of their status as directors or officers and to advance expenses incurred by such individuals in connection with related legal proceedings. It is not possible to determine the maximum potential amount of payments the Company could be required to make under these agreements due to the limited history of prior indemnification claims and the unique facts and circumstances involved in each claim. However, the Company maintains directors and officers liability insurance coverage to reduce its exposure to such obligations.

Concentrations in the Available Sources of Supply of Materials and Product

Although most components essential to the Company’s business are generally available from multiple sources, a number of components are currently obtained from single or limited sources. In addition, the Company competes for various components with other participants in the markets for mobile communication and media devices and personal computers. Therefore, many components used by the Company, including those that are available from multiple sources, are at times subject to industry-wide shortage and significant pricing fluctuations that could materially adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

The Company uses some custom components that are not commonly used by its competitors, and new products introduced by the Company often utilize custom components available from only one source. When a component or product uses new technologies, initial capacity constraints may exist until the suppliers’ yields have matured or manufacturing capacity has increased. If the Company’s supply of components for a new or existing product were delayed or constrained, or if an outsourcing partner delayed shipments of completed products to the Company, the Company’s financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected. The Company’s business and financial performance could also be materially adversely affected depending on the time required to obtain sufficient quantities from the original source, or to identify and obtain sufficient quantities from an alternative source. Continued availability of these components at acceptable prices, or at all, may be affected if those suppliers concentrated on the production of common components instead of components customized to meet the Company’s requirements.

The Company has entered into agreements for the supply of many components; however, there can be no guarantee that the Company will be able to extend or renew these agreements on similar terms, or at all. Therefore, the Company remains subject to significant risks of supply shortages and price increases that could materially adversely affect its financial condition and operating results.

Substantially all of the Company’s hardware products are manufactured by outsourcing partners that are located primarily in Asia. A significant concentration of this manufacturing is currently performed by a small number of outsourcing partners, often in single locations. Certain of these outsourcing partners are the sole-sourced suppliers of components and manufacturers for many of the Company’s products. Although the Company works closely with its outsourcing partners on manufacturing schedules, the Company’s operating results could be adversely affected if its outsourcing partners were unable to meet their production commitments. The Company’s manufacturing purchase commitmentsobligations typically cover its requirements for periods up to 150 days.


Other Off-Balance Sheet Commitments

Operating Leases

The Company leases various equipment and facilities, including retail space, under noncancelable operating lease arrangements. The majorCompany does not currently utilize any other off-balance sheet financing arrangements. As of December 31, 2016, the Company’s total future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases were $7.5 billion. The Company's retail store and other facility leases are typically for terms not exceeding 10 years and generally contain multi-year renewal options. As of March 26, 2016, the Company had a total of 475 retail stores. Leases for retail space are for terms ranging from five to 20 years, the majority of which are for 10 years, and often contain multi-year renewal options. As of March 26, 2016, the Company’s total future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases were $6.8 billion, of which $3.9 billion related to leases for retail space.

Contingencies

The Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims that have arisen in the ordinary course of business and that have not been fully adjudicated, certain of which areas further discussed in Part II, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q under the heading “Legal Proceedings” and in Part II, Item 1A of this Form 10-Q under the heading “Risk Factors.” In the opinion of management, there was not at least a reasonable possibility the Company may have incurred a material loss, or a material loss in excess of a recorded accrual, with respect to loss contingencies for asserted legal and other claims. However, the outcome of litigation is inherently uncertain. Therefore, although management considers the likelihood of such an outcome to be remote, if one or more of these legal matters were resolved against the Company in a reporting period for amounts in excess of management’s expectations, the Company’s consolidated financial statements for that reporting period could be materially adversely affected.

Apple Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., et al.

On August 24, 2012, a jury returned a verdict awarding the Company $1.05 billion in its lawsuit against Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and affiliated parties in the United States District Court, Northern District of California, San Jose Division. On March 6, 2014, the District Court entered final judgment in favor of the Company in the amount of approximately $930 million. On May 18, 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed in part, and reversed in part, the decision of the District Court. As a result, the Court of Appeals ordered entry of final judgment on damages in the amount of approximately $548 million, with the District Court to determine supplemental damages and interest, as well as damages owed for products subject to the reversal in part. Samsung paid $548 million to the Company in December 2015, which was included in net sales in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. On December 6, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court remanded the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit for further proceedings related to the $548 million in damages. Because the case remains subject to further proceedings, the Company has not recognized any further amounts in its results of operations. On March 21, 2016, the United States Supreme Court agreed to hear Samsung’s request for appeal related to the $548 million in damages.

Note 11 – Segment Information and Geographic Data

The Company reports segment information based on the “management” approach. The management approach designates the internal reporting used by management for making decisions and assessing performance as the source of the Company’s reportable operating segments.

The Company manages its business primarily on a geographic basis. The Company’s reportable operating segments consist of the Americas, Europe, Greater China, Japan and Rest of Asia Pacific. The Americas segment includes both North and South America. The Europe segment includes European countries, as well as India, the Middle East and Africa. The Greater China segment includes China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The Rest of Asia Pacific segment includes Australia and those Asian countries not included in the Company’s other reportable operating segments. Although the reportable operating segments provide similar hardware and software products and similar services, each one is managed separately to better align with the location of the Company’s customers and distribution partners and the unique market dynamics of each geographic region. The accounting policies of the various segments are the same as those described in Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of the 20152016 Form 10-K.

The Company evaluates the performance of its reportable operating segments based on net sales and operating income. Net sales for geographic segments are generally based on the location of customers and sales through the Company’s retail stores located in those geographic locations. Operating income for each segment includes net sales to third parties, related cost of sales and operating expenses directly attributable to the segment. Advertising expenses are generally included in the geographic segment in which the expenditures are incurred. Operating income for each segment excludes other income and expense and certain expenses managed outside the reportable operating segments. Costs excluded from segment operating income include various corporate expenses such as research and development, corporate marketing expenses, certain share-based compensation expenses, income taxes, various nonrecurring charges and other separately managed general and administrative costs. The Company does not include intercompany transfers between segments for management reporting purposes.


The following table shows information by reportable operating segment for the three- and six-month periodsthree months ended March 26,December 31, 2016 and March 28,December 26, 2015 (in millions):

                                                                                                
   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
 

Americas:

        

Net sales

  $19,096    $21,316    $48,421    $51,882  

Operating income

  $6,116    $7,186    $16,134    $17,887  

    

        

Europe:

        

Net sales

  $11,535    $12,204    $29,467    $29,418  

Operating income

  $3,602    $4,112    $9,381    $9,994  

Greater China:

        

Net sales

  $12,486    $16,823    $30,859    $32,967  

Operating income

  $4,818    $6,714    $12,394    $13,080  

    

        

Japan:

        

Net sales

  $4,281    $3,457    $9,075    $8,905  

Operating income

  $1,930    $1,699    $4,170    $4,187  

Rest of Asia Pacific:

        

Net sales

  $3,159    $4,210    $8,607    $9,437  

Operating income

  $1,095    $1,600    $3,127    $3,449  

 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
Americas:   
Net sales$31,968
 $29,325
Operating income$10,494
 $10,018
    
Europe:   
Net sales$18,521
 $17,932
Operating income$5,736
 $5,779
    
Greater China:   
Net sales$16,233
 $18,373
Operating income$6,176
 $7,576
    
Japan:   
Net sales$5,766
 $4,794
Operating income$2,673
 $2,240
    
Rest of Asia Pacific:   
Net sales$5,863
 $5,448
Operating income$2,229
 $2,032
A reconciliation of the Company’s segment operating income to the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three- and six-month periodsthree months ended March 26,December 31, 2016 and March 28,December 26, 2015 is as follows (in millions):

                                                                                                
   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
 

Segment operating income

  $17,561    $21,311    $45,206    $48,597  

Research and development expense

   (2,511   (1,918   (4,915   (3,813

Other corporate expenses, net

   (1,063   (1,115   (2,133   (2,260
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating income

  $13,987    $18,278    $38,158    $42,524  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
Segment operating income$27,308
 $27,645
Research and development expense(2,871) (2,404)
Other corporate expenses, net(1,078) (1,070)
Total operating income$23,359
 $24,171

Item 2.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This section and other parts of this Quarterly Report on Form10-Q 10‑Q containforward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Forward-looking statements can also be identified by words such as “future,future, “anticipates,anticipates, “believes,believes, “estimates,estimates, “expects,expects, “intends,intends, “plans,plans, “predicts,predicts, “will,will, “would,would, “could,could, “can,can, “may,may, and similar terms. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and the Company’s actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed in theforward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in Part II, Item 1A of this Form 10-Q under the heading “Risk Factors,” which are incorporated herein by reference. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 26, 201524, 2016 (the “2015“2016 Form 10-K”) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q. All information presented herein is based on the Company’s fiscal calendar. Unless otherwise stated, references to particular years, quarters, months or periods refer to the Company’s fiscal years ended in September and the associated quarters, months and periods of those fiscal years. Each of the terms the “Company” and “Apple” as used herein refers collectively to Apple Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, unless otherwise stated. The Company assumes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.

Available Information

The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to reports filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are filed with the SEC. The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and files or furnishes reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC. Such reports and other information filed by the Company with the SEC are available free of charge on the Company’s website atinvestor.apple.com/sec.cfm when such reports are available on the SEC’s website. The public may read and copy any materials filed by the Company with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC atwww.sec.gov. The contents of websites are not incorporated into this filing. Further, the Company’s references to website URLs are intended to be inactive textual references only.

Overview and Highlights

Company Background

The Company designs, manufactures and markets mobile communication and media devices, personal computers and portable digital music players, and sells a variety of related software, services, accessories, networking solutions and third-party digital content and applications. The Company’s products and services include iPhone®, iPad®, Mac®, iPod®, Apple Watch®, Apple TV®, a portfolio of consumer and professional software applications, iOS, OS XmacOS™, watchOS®, watchOS® and tvOS™ operating systems, iCloud®, Apple Pay® and a variety of accessory, service and support offerings. The Company sells and delivers digital content and applications through the iTunes Store®, App Store®, Mac App Store, TV App Store, iBooks Store™ and Apple Music™Music® (collectively “Internet“Digital Content and Services”). The Company sells its products worldwide through its retail stores, online stores and direct sales force, as well as through third-party cellular network carriers, wholesalers, retailers and value-added resellers. In addition, the Company sells a variety of third-party Apple compatibleApple-compatible products, including application software and various accessories through its onlineretail and retailonline stores. The Company sells to consumers, small and mid-sized businesses and education, enterprise and government customers.

Business Strategy

The Company is committed to bringing the best user experience to its customers through its innovative hardware, software and services. The Company’s business strategy leverages its unique ability to design and develop its own operating systems, hardware, application software and services to provide its customers products and solutions with innovative design, superior ease-of-use and seamless integration. As part of its strategy, the Company continues to expand its platform for the discovery and delivery of digital content and applications through its InternetDigital Content and Services, which allows customers to discover and download digital content, iOS, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV applications, and books through either a Mac or Windows-basedWindows personal computer or through iPhone, iPad and iPod touch® devices (“iOS devices”), Apple TV and Apple Watch. The Company also supports a community for the development of third-party software and hardware products and digital content that complement the Company’s offerings. The Company believes a high-quality buying experience with knowledgeable salespersons who can convey the value of the Company’s products and services greatly enhances its ability to attract and retain customers. Therefore, the Company’s strategy also includes building and expanding its own retail and online stores and its third-party distribution network to effectively reach more customers and provide them with a high-quality sales and post-sales support experience. The Company believes ongoing investment in research and development (“R&D”), marketing and advertising is critical to the development and sale of innovative products and technologies.


Business Seasonality and Product Introductions

The Company has historically experienced higher net sales in its first quarter compared to other quarters in its fiscal year due in part to seasonal holiday demand. Additionally, new product introductions can significantly impact net sales, product costs and operating expenses. Product introductions can also impact the Company’s net sales to its indirect distribution channels as these channels are filled with new product inventory following a product introduction, and often, channel inventory of a particular product declines as the next related major product launch approaches. Net sales can also be affected when consumers and distributors anticipate a product introduction. However, neither historical seasonal patterns nor historical patterns of product introductions should be considered reliable indicators of the Company’s future pattern of product introductions, future net sales or financial performance.

Second

Fiscal Period
The Company’s fiscal year is the 52 or 53-week period that ends on the last Saturday of September. The Company’s fiscal year 2017 will include 53 weeks and will end on September 30, 2017. A 14th week has been included in the first quarter of 2017, as is done every five or six years, to realign the Company’s fiscal quarters with calendar quarters.
First Quarter Fiscal 20162017 Highlights

Net sales decreased 13%grew 3% or $7.5$2.5 billion during the secondfirst quarter of 2017 compared to the first quarter of 2016, primarily driven by strong growth in iPhone and Services, partially offset by lower iPad sales. The positive impact of having an additional week in the first quarter of 2017 was primarily offset by lower year-over-year channel inventory growth, an earlier launch of iPhone 7 and 7 Plus as compared to the same quarter in 2015, primarily driven by lower iPhone salesprior year and the effect of weakness in most foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar. The Company had strong year-over-year net sales growth in Services and Other Products.
During the secondfirst quarter of 2016,2017, the Company introduced iPhone SEa new MacBook Pro® with Touch Bar™, an interface that replaces the traditional row of function keys, and the 9.7-inch iPad Pro™released AirPods™, both of which were available beginning in the third quarter of 2016.

The Company utilized $7.0 billion to repurchase shares of its common stock and paid dividends and dividend equivalents of $2.9 billion during the second quarter of 2016. Additionally, the Company issued $15.5 billion of U.S. dollar-denominated long-term debt.

are new wireless headphones.

Sales Data

The following table shows net sales by operating segment and net sales and unit sales by product for the three- and six-month periodsthree months ended March 26,December 31, 2016 and March 28,December 26, 2015 (dollars in millions and units in thousands):

                                                                                                
   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   Change   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   Change 

Net Sales by Operating Segment:

            

Americas

  $19,096    $21,316     (10)%    $48,421    $51,882     (7)%  

Europe

   11,535     12,204     (5)%     29,467     29,418     0%  

Greater China

   12,486     16,823     (26)%     30,859     32,967     (6)%  

Japan

   4,281     3,457     24%     9,075     8,905     2%  

Rest of Asia Pacific

   3,159     4,210     (25)%     8,607     9,437     (9)%  
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net sales

  $50,557    $58,010     (13)%    $126,429    $132,609     (5)%  
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net Sales by Product:

            

iPhone(1)

  $32,857    $40,282     (18)%    $84,492    $91,464     (8)%  

iPad(1)

   4,413     5,428     (19)%     11,497     14,413     (20)%  

Mac(1)

   5,107     5,615     (9)%     11,853     12,559     (6)%  

Services(2)

   5,991     4,996     20%     12,047     9,795     23%  

Other Products(1)(3)

   2,189     1,689     30%     6,540     4,378     49%  
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total net sales

  $50,557    $58,010     (13)%    $126,429    $132,609     (5)%  
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Unit Sales by Product:

            

iPhone

   51,193     61,170     (16)%     125,972     135,638     (7)%  

iPad

   10,251     12,623     (19)%     26,373     34,042     (23)%  

Mac

   4,034     4,563     (12)%     9,346     10,082     (7)%  

 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
 Change
Net Sales by Operating Segment:     
Americas$31,968
 $29,325
 9 %
Europe18,521
 17,932
 3 %
Greater China16,233
 18,373
 (12)%
Japan5,766
 4,794
 20 %
Rest of Asia Pacific5,863
 5,448
 8 %
Total net sales$78,351
 $75,872
 3 %
      
Net Sales by Product:     
iPhone (1)
$54,378
 $51,635
 5 %
iPad (1)
5,533
 7,084
 (22)%
Mac (1)
7,244
 6,746
 7 %
Services (2)
7,172
 6,056
 18 %
Other Products (1)(3)
4,024
 4,351
 (8)%
Total net sales$78,351
 $75,872
 3 %
      
Unit Sales by Product:     
iPhone78,290
 74,779
 5 %
iPad13,081
 16,122
 (19)%
Mac5,374
 5,312
 1 %
(1)

Includes deferrals and amortization of related software upgrade rights and non-software services.

(2)

Includes revenue from InternetDigital Content and Services, AppleCare®, Apple Pay, licensing and other services.

(3)

Includes sales of Apple TV, Apple Watch, Beats® products, iPod and Apple-branded and third-party accessories.


Product Performance

iPhone

The following table presents iPhone net sales and unit sales information for the three-first quarter of 2017 and six-month periods ended March 26, 2016 and March 28, 2015 (dollars in millions and units in thousands):

                                                                                                
   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   Change   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   Change 

Net sales

  $32,857    $40,282     (18)%    $84,492    $91,464     (8)%  

Percentage of total net sales

   65%     69%       67%     69%    

Unit sales

   51,193     61,170     (16)%     125,972     135,638     (7)%  

 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
 Change
Net sales$54,378
 $51,635
 5%
Percentage of total net sales69% 68%  
Unit sales78,290
 74,779
 5%
iPhone net sales and unit sales decreasedincreased during the secondfirst quarter and first six months of 20162017 compared to the same periodsquarter in 2015. The Company believes2016, driven by strong growth in each of the unit sales decline is due primarily togeographic operating segments, with the accelerationexception of iPhone upgrades in the first half of 2015 and challenging macroeconomic conditions around the world. Average selling prices (“ASPs”) for iPhone were lower year-over-year during the second quarter and first six months of 2016 due to a change in the mix of iPhones and the effect of weakness in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar.

Greater China.

iPad

The following table presents iPad net sales and unit sales information for the three-first quarter of 2017 and six-month periods ended March 26, 2016 and March 28, 2015 (dollars in millions and units in thousands):

                                                                                                
   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   Change   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   Change 

Net sales

  $4,413    $5,428     (19)%    $11,497    $14,413     (20)%  

Percentage of total net sales

   9%     9%       9%     11%    

Unit sales

   10,251     12,623     (19)%     26,373     34,042     (23)%  

 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
 Change
Net sales$5,533
 $7,084
 (22)%
Percentage of total net sales7% 9%  
Unit sales13,081
 16,122
 (19)%
iPad net sales and unit sales declined duringdecreased in the secondfirst quarter and first six months of 20162017 compared to the same periodsquarter in 2015. The Company believes the decline in2016 due to lower iPad unit sales isand lower average selling prices for iPad, both due in part to a longer repurchase cycle for iPads and some levelthe introduction of cannibalization from the Company’s other products. Year-over-year ASPs for12.9-inch iPad were flat duringPro in the secondfirst quarter of 2016 and increased 3% during the first six months of 2016 due primarily to a shift in mix to higher-capacity iPads and the launch of iPad Pro, partially offset by the effect of weakness in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar.

2016.

Mac

The following table presents Mac net sales and unit sales information for the three-first quarter of 2017 and six-month periods ended March 26, 2016 and March 28, 2015 (dollars in millions and units in thousands):

                                                                                                
   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   Change   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   Change 

Net sales

  $5,107    $5,615     (9)%    $11,853    $12,559     (6)%  

Percentage of total net sales

   10%     10%       9%     9%    

Unit sales

   4,034     4,563     (12)%     9,346     10,082     (7)%  

 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
 Change
Net sales$7,244
 $6,746
 7%
Percentage of total net sales9% 9%  
Unit sales5,374
 5,312
 1%
Mac net sales and unit sales declinedincreased during the secondfirst quarter and first six months of 20162017 compared to the same periodsquarter in 2015, similar2016 due primarily to a different mix of Macs, including the overall market contraction. Mac ASPs increased duringnew MacBook Pro introduced in the secondfirst quarter of 2017.
Services
The following table presents Services net sales information for the first quarter of 2017 and 2016 (dollars in millions): 
 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
 Change
Net sales$7,172
 $6,056
 18%
Percentage of total net sales9% 8%  
The year-over-year increase in Services net sales in the first six monthsquarter of 20162017 compared to the same periodsquarter in 2015 due primarily to a change in the mix of Macs, partially offset by the effect of weakness in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar.

Services

The following table presents net sales information of Services for the three- and six-month periods ended March 26, 2016 and March 28, 2015 (dollars in millions):

                                                                                                
   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   Change   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   Change 

Net sales

  $5,991    $4,996     20%    $12,047    $9,795     23%  

Percentage of total net sales

   12%     9%       10%     7%    

The year-over-year increase in net sales of Services in the second quarter and first six months of 2016 was due primarily to highergrowth from the App Store licensing and AppleCare sales. Duringsales, partially offset by the $548 million received from Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. in the first quarter of 2016 the Company received $548 million from Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. related to its patent infringement lawsuit, which was recorded as licensing net sales within Services.

matters.


Segment Operating Performance

The Company manages its business primarily on a geographic basis. The Company’s reportable operating segments consist of the Americas, Europe, Greater China, Japan and Rest of Asia Pacific. The Americas segment includes both North and South America. The Europe segment includes European countries, as well as India, the Middle East and Africa. The Greater China segment includes China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The Rest of Asia Pacific segment includes Australia and those Asian countries not included in the Company’s other reportable operating segments. Although the reportable operating segments provide similar hardware and software products and similar services, each one is managed separately to better align with the location of the Company’s customers and distribution partners and the unique market dynamics of each geographic region. Further information regarding the Company’s reportable operating segments can be found in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, in Note 11, “Segment Information and Geographic Data.”

Americas

The following table presents Americas net sales information for the three-first quarter of 2017 and six-month periods ended March 26, 2016 and March 28, 2015 (dollars in millions):

                                                                                                
   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   Change   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   Change 

Net sales

  $19,096    $21,316     (10)%    $48,421    $51,882     (7)%  

Percentage of total net sales

   38%     37%       38%     39%    

 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
 Change
Net sales$31,968
 $29,325
 9%
Percentage of total net sales41% 39%  
Americas net sales increased during the first quarter of 2017 compared to the same quarter in 2016 due primarily to higher net sales of iPhone, partially offset by lower net sales of iPad.
Europe
The following table presents Europe net sales information for the first quarter of 2017 and 2016 (dollars in millions):
 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
 Change
Net sales$18,521
 $17,932
 3%
Percentage of total net sales24% 24%  
Europe net sales increased during the first quarter of 2017 compared to the same quarter in 2016 due primarily to higher net sales of iPhone, partially offset by the effect of weakness in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar and a decrease in net sales of iPad.
Greater China
The following table presents Greater China net sales information for the first quarter of 2017 and 2016 (dollars in millions):
 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
 Change  
Net sales$16,233
 $18,373
 (12)%
Percentage of total net sales21% 24%  
Greater China net sales decreased during the secondfirst quarter and first six months of 20162017 compared to the same periodsquarter in 20152016 due primarily to lower net sales of iPhone and the effect of weakness in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar.

Europe

The following table presents Europe net sales information for the three- and six-month periods ended March 26, 2016 and March 28, 2015 (dollars in millions):

                                                                                                
   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   Change   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   Change 

Net sales

  $11,535    $12,204     (5)%    $29,467    $29,418     0%  

Percentage of total net sales

   23%     21%       23%     22%    

Europe net sales decreased during the second quarter of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 due primarily to the effect of weakness in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar. Year-over-year Europe net sales were flat during the first six months of 2016 due primarily to the effect of weakness in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar, offset by higher unit sales of iPhone.

Greater China

The following table presents Greater China net sales information for the three- and six-month periods ended March 26, 2016 and March 28, 2015 (dollars in millions):

                                                                                                
   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   Change   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   Change 

Net sales

  $12,486    $16,823     (26)%    $30,859    $32,967     (6)%  

Percentage of total net sales

   25%     29%       24%     25%    

Greater China net sales decreased during the second quarter and first six months of 2016 compared to the same periods in 2015 due primarily to lower net sales of iPhone and the effect of weakness in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar.


Japan

The following table presents Japan net sales information for the three-first quarter of 2017 and six-month periods ended March 26, 2016 and March 28, 2015 (dollars in millions):

                                                                                                
   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   Change   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   Change 

Net sales

  $4,281    $3,457     24%    $9,075    $8,905     2%  

Percentage of total net sales

   8%     6%       7%     7%    

 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
 Change  
Net sales$5,766
 $4,794
 20%
Percentage of total net sales7% 6%  
Japan net sales increased during the secondfirst quarter of 20162017 compared to the same periodquarter in 20152016 due primarily to higher net sales of iPhone and Services. The year-over-year increase in Japan net sales during the first six months of 2016 was due primarily to higher sales of Services, partially offset byand the effect of weaknessstrength in the Japanese Yenyen relative to the U.S. dollar.

Rest of Asia Pacific

The following table presents Rest of Asia Pacific net sales information for the three-first quarter of 2017 and six-month periods ended March 26, 2016 and March 28, 2015 (dollars in millions):

                                                                                                
   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   Change   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   Change 

Net sales

  $3,159    $4,210     (25)%    $8,607    $9,437     (9)%  

Percentage of total net sales

   6%     7%       7%     7%    

 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
 Change  
Net sales$5,863
 $5,448
 8%
Percentage of total net sales7% 7%  
Rest of Asia Pacific net sales decreasedincreased during the secondfirst quarter and first six months of 20162017 compared to the same periodsquarter in 20152016 due primarily to lowerhigher net sales of iPhone and the effect of strength in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar.
Gross Margin
Gross margin for the first quarter of 2017 and 2016 was as follows (dollars in millions):
 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
Net sales$78,351
 $75,872
Cost of sales48,175
 45,449
Gross margin$30,176
 $30,423
Gross margin percentage38.5% 40.1%
Gross margin decreased during the first quarter of 2017 compared to the same quarter in 2016 due primarily to higher product cost structures and the effect of weakness in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar.

Gross Margin

Gross margin for the three- and six-month periods ended March 26, 2016 and March 28, 2015 was as follows (dollars in millions):

                                                                                                
   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
 

Net sales

  $50,557    $58,010    $126,429    $132,609  

Cost of sales

   30,636     34,354     76,085     79,212  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross margin

  $19,921    $23,656    $50,344    $53,397  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross margin percentage

   39.4%     40.8%     39.8%     40.3%  

The gross margin percentage decreased during the second quarter of 2016 and the first six months of 2016 compared to the same periods in 2015 due primarily to the effect of weakness in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar, and unfavorable leverage on fixed costs from lower net sales, partially offset by a favorable shift in mix toof products and services with higher margins.

services.

The Company anticipates gross margin during the thirdsecond quarter of 20162017 to be between 37.5%38% and 38.0%39%. The foregoing statement regarding the Company’s expected gross margin percentage in the thirdsecond quarter of 20162017 is forward-looking and could differ from actual results. The Company’s future gross margins can be impacted by multiple factors including, but not limited to, those set forth in Part II, Item 1A of this Form 10-Q under the heading “Risk Factors” and those described in this paragraph. In general, the Company believes gross margins will remain under downward pressure due to a variety of factors, including continued industry wideindustry-wide global product pricing pressures, increased competition, compressed product life cycles, product transitions, potential increases in the cost of components, and potential strengthening of the U.S. dollar, as well as potential increases in the costs of outside manufacturing services and a potential shift in the Company’s sales mix towards products with lower gross margins.In response to competitive pressures, the Company expects it will continue to take product pricing actions, which would adversely affect gross margins. Gross margins could also be affected by the Company’s ability to manage product quality and warranty costs effectively and to stimulate demand for certain of its products. Due to the Company’s significant international operations, its financial condition and operating results, including gross margins, could be significantly affected by fluctuations in exchange rates.



Operating Expenses

Operating expenses for the three-first quarter of 2017 and six-month periods ended March 26, 2016 and March 28, 2015 were as follows (dollars in millions):

                                                                                                
   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
 

Research and development

  $2,511    $1,918    $4,915    $3,813  

Percentage of total net sales

   5.0%     3.3%     3.9%     2.9%  

Selling, general and administrative

  $3,423    $3,460    $7,271    $7,060  

Percentage of total net sales

   6.8%     6.0%     5.8%     5.3%  

Total operating expenses

  $5,934    $5,378    $12,186    $10,873  

Percentage of total net sales

   11.7%     9.3%     9.6%     8.2%  

 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
Research and development$2,871
 $2,404
Percentage of total net sales4% 3%
Selling, general and administrative$3,946
 $3,848
Percentage of total net sales5% 5%
Total operating expenses$6,817
 $6,252
Percentage of total net sales9% 8%
Research and Development

The year-over-year increasegrowth in R&D expense during the secondfirst quarter and first six months of 20162017 compared to the same periodsquarter in 20152016 was driven primarily by an increase in headcount and related expenses, including share-based compensation costs, and material costs to support expanded R&D activities. The Company continues to believe that focused investments in R&D are critical to its future growth and competitive position in the marketplace, and are directly related to timelythe development of new and updated products that are central to the Company’s core business strategy.

Selling, General and Administrative

The year-over-year decrease in selling, general and administrative expense during the second quarter of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 was due primarily to a decrease in advertising and related programs, partially offset by an increase in headcount and related expenses. The year-over-year increasegrowth in selling, general and administrative expense during the first six monthsquarter of 20162017 compared to the same periodquarter in 20152016 was duedriven primarily to increasedby an increase in headcount and related expenses.

expenses and higher variable selling costs, partially offset by lower advertising costs.

Other Income/(Expense), Net

Other income/(expense), net for the three-first quarter of 2017 and six-month periods ended March 26, 2016 and March 28, 2015 was as follows (dollars in millions):

                                                                                    
   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   Change   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   Change 

Interest and dividend income

  $986    $675      $1,927    $1,329    

Interest expense

   (321   (163     (597   (294  

Other expense, net

   (510   (226     (773   (579  
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total other income/(expense), net

  $155    $286     (46)%    $557    $456     22%  
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

The decrease in other income/(expense), net during the second quarter of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 was due primarily to higher interest expense on debt and higher expenses associated with foreign exchange activity, partially offset by higher interest income.

 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
 Change
Interest and dividend income$1,224
 $941
  
Interest expense(525) (276)  
Other income/(expense), net122
 (263)  
Total other income/(expense), net$821
 $402
 104%
The increase in other income/(expense), net during the first six monthsquarter of 20162017 compared to the same periodquarter in 20152016 was due primarily to higher interest income and foreign exchange gains, partially offset by higher interest expense on debt and losses on marketable securities.debt. The weighted-average interest rate earned by the Company on its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities was 1.74%1.87% and 1.43% in the second quarter of 2016 and 2015, respectively, and 1.70% and 1.42%1.65% in the first six monthsquarter of 2017 and 2016, and 2015, respectively.

Provision for Income Taxes

Provision for income taxes and effective tax rates for the three-first quarter of 2017 and six-month periods ended March 26, 2016 and March 28, 2015 were as follows (dollars in millions):

                                                                                                
   Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
 

Provision for income taxes

  $3,626    $4,995    $9,838    $11,387  

Effective tax rate

   25.6%     26.9%     25.4%     26.5%  

 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
Provision for income taxes$6,289
 $6,212
Effective tax rate26.0% 25.3%
The Company’s effective tax rates during the secondfirst quarter of 20162017 and 20152016 differ from the statutory federal income tax rate of 35% due primarily to certain undistributed foreign earnings, a substantial portion of which was generated by subsidiaries organized in Ireland, for which no U.S. taxes are provided when such earnings are intended to be indefinitely reinvested outside the U.S. The lowerhigher year-over-year effective tax rate during the secondfirst quarter and first six months of 2016 compared to the same periods in 20152017 was due primarily to a different geographic mixthe retroactive reinstatement of earnings.

Thethe U.S. Internal Revenue Service is currently examiningfederal R&D tax credit during the years 2010 through 2012, and all years prior to 2010 are closed. In addition, thefirst quarter of 2016.



The Company is subject to audits by federal, state, local and foreign tax authorities. Management believes that adequate provisions have been made for any adjustments that may result from tax examinations. However, the outcome of tax audits cannot be predicted with certainty. If any issues addressed in the Company’s tax audits are resolved in a manner not consistent with management’s expectations, the Company could be required to adjust its provision for income taxes in the period such resolution occurs.

On June 11, 2014,August 30, 2016, the European Commission issued an openingannounced its decision initiating a formal investigation againstthat Ireland for allegedgranted state aid to the Company. The opening decision concernsCompany by providing tax opinions in 1991 and 2007 concerning the tax allocation of profits for taxation purposes of the Irish branches of two subsidiaries of the Company.Company (the “State Aid Decision”). The State Aid Decision orders Ireland to calculate and recover additional taxes from the Company for the period June 2003 through December 2014. Irish legislative changes, effective as of January 2015, eliminated the application of the tax opinions from that date forward. The Company believes the State Aid Decision to be without merit and appealed to the General Court of the Court of Justice of the European Commission’s assertions are without merit. IfUnion. Ireland has also appealed the State Aid Decision. While the European Commission were to conclude against Ireland, the European Commission could require Ireland to recover from the Company past taxes coveringannounced a periodrecovery amount of up to 10 years reflective€13 billion, plus interest, the actual amount of additional taxes subject to recovery is to be calculated by Ireland in accordance with the disallowed state aid. While suchEuropean Commission's guidance. Once the recovery amount could be material, as of March 26, 2016is computed by Ireland, the Company is unableanticipates funding it, including interest, out of foreign cash into escrow, where it will remain pending conclusion of all appeals. The Company believes that any incremental Irish corporate income taxes potentially due related to estimate the impact.

State Aid Decision would be creditable against U.S. taxes.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Stock Compensation

Restricted Cash
In MarchNovember 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash (“ASU 2016-18”), which enhances and clarifies the guidance on the classification and presentation of restricted cash in the statement of cash flows. The Company will adopt ASU 2016-18 in its first quarter of 2019 utilizing the retrospective adoption method. Currently, the Company's restricted cash balance is not significant.
Income Taxes
In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory (“ASU 2016-16”), which requires the recognition of the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset, other than inventory, when the transfer occurs. The Company will adopt ASU 2016-16 in its first quarter of 2019 utilizing the modified retrospective adoption method. Currently, the Company anticipates recording up to $9 billion of net deferred tax assets on its Consolidated Balance Sheets. However, the ultimate impact of adopting ASU 2016-16 will depend on the balance of intellectual property transferred between its subsidiaries as of the adoption date. The Company will recognize incremental deferred income tax expense thereafter as these deferred tax assets are utilized.
Stock Compensation
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2016-09”), which simplifiedmodifies certain aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including income taxes, classification of awards, and classification in the statement of cash flows. The Company will adopt ASU 2016-09 will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of 2018. TheCurrently, excess tax benefits or deficiencies from the Company's equity awards are recorded as additional paid-in capital in its Consolidated Balance Sheets. Upon adoption, the Company is currently evaluatingwill record any excess tax benefits or deficiencies from its equity awards in its Consolidated Statements of Operations in the impactreporting periods in which vesting occurs. As a result, subsequent to adoption the Company's income tax expense and associated effective tax rate will be impacted by fluctuations in stock price between the grant dates and vesting dates of adopting the new stock compensation standard on its consolidated financial statements.

equity awards.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”), which modifiedmodifies lease accounting for both lessees and lessors to increase transparency and comparability by recognizingrecording lease assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases under previous accounting standards and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of 2020, and early adoption is permitted. The Company will use a modified retrospective adoption approach. While the Company is currently evaluating the timing of its adoption and the impact of adopting ASU 2016-02, currently the newCompany anticipates recording lease standardassets and liabilities in excess of $7.5 billion on its consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Balance Sheets, with no material impact to its Consolidated Statements of Operations. However, the ultimate impact of adopting ASU 2016-02 will depend on the Company's lease portfolio as of the adoption date.

Financial Instruments

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“ASU 2016-01”), which updates certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments. The Company will adopt ASU 2016-01 will be effective for the Company beginning in its first quarter of 2019. The Company does not believe2019 utilizing the modified retrospective adoption method. Based on the composition of the Company's investment portfolio, the adoption of the new financial instruments standard willASU 2016-01 is not expected to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.


In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”), which modifies the measurement of expected credit losses of certain financial instruments. The Company will adopt ASU 2016-13 in its first quarter of 2021 utilizing the modified retrospective adoption method. Based on the composition of the Company's investment portfolio, current market conditions, and historical credit loss activity, the adoption of ASU 2016-13 is not expected to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
Revenue Recognition

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”), which amends the existing accounting standards for revenue recognition. ASU 2014-09 is based on principles that govern the recognition of revenue at an amount an entity expects to be entitled when products are transferred to customers.

The original effective date for ASU 2014-09 would have required the Company to adopt beginning in its first quarter of 2018. In August 2015,

Subsequently, the FASB has issued the following standards related to ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) – Deferral of the Effective Date, which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for one year and permits early adoption as early as the original effective date of ASU 2014-09. Accordingly, the Company may adopt the standard in either its first quarter of 2018 or 2019.

In March 2016, the FASB issued2014-09: ASU No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (“ASU 2016-08”), which clarifies the implementation guidance for principal versus agent considerations in ASU 2014-09. In April 2016, the FASB issued; ASU No. 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing (“ASU 2016-10”), which amends the guidance in; ASU 2014-09 relatedNo. 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients (“ASU 2016-12”); and ASU No. 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to identifying performance obligations and accounting for licenses of intellectual property.Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2016-20”). The Company must adopt ASU 2016-08, ASU 2016-10, ASU 2016-12 and ASU 2016-102016-20 with ASU 2014-09.

2014-09 (collectively, the “new revenue standards”).

The new revenue standardstandards may be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect recognized as of the date of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the timing of its adoption and the impact of adoptingexpects to adopt the new revenue standardstandards in its first quarter of 2018 utilizing the full retrospective adoption method. The new revenue standards are not expected to have a material impact on itsthe amount and timing of revenue recognized in the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The following tables present selected financial information and statistics as of March 26,December 31, 2016 and September 26, 201524, 2016 and for the first sixthree months of 20162017 and 20152016 (in millions):

                                                                
   March 26,
2016
   September 26,
2015
 

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities

  $232,928    $205,666  

Property, plant and equipment, net

  $23,203    $22,471  

Commercial paper

  $7,998    $8,499  

Total term debt

  $71,874    $55,963  

Working capital

  $19,327    $8,768  
   Six Months Ended 
   March 26,
2016
   March 28,
2015
 

Cash generated by operating activities

  $39,064    $52,803  

Cash used in investing activities

  $(34,110  $(43,496

Cash used in financing activities

  $(4,560  $(8,662

 December 31,
2016
 September 24,
2016
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities$246,090
 $237,585
Property, plant and equipment, net$26,510
 $27,010
Commercial paper$10,493
 $8,105
Total term debt$77,056
 $78,927
Working capital$19,202
 $27,863
 Three Months Ended
 December 31,
2016
 December 26,
2015
Cash generated by operating activities$27,056
 $27,463
Cash used in investing activities$(19,122) $(20,450)
Cash used in financing activities$(12,047) $(11,444)
The Company believes its existing balances of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will be sufficient to satisfy its working capital needs, capital asset purchases, outstanding commitments and other liquidity requirements associated with its existing operations over the next 12 months. The Company currently anticipates the cash used for future dividends, the share repurchase program and debt repayments will come from its current domestic cash, cash generated from on-going U.S. operating activities and from borrowings.

As of March 26,December 31, 2016 and September 26, 2015,24, 2016, the Company’s cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities held by foreign subsidiaries were $208.9$230.2 billion and $186.9$216.0 billion, respectively, and are generally based in U.S.dollar-denominated holdings. Amounts held by foreign subsidiaries are generally subject to U.S. income taxation on repatriation to the U.S. In connection with the State Aid Decision, the European Commission announced a recovery amount of up to €13 billion, plus interest. The actual amount of additional taxes subject to recovery is to be calculated by Ireland in accordance with the European Commission's guidance. Once the recovery amount is computed by Ireland, the Company anticipates funding it, including interest, out of foreign cash into escrow, where it will remain pending conclusion of all appeals.
The Company’s marketable securities investment portfolio is invested primarily in highly-rated securities, and its investment policy generally limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer. The policy requires investments generally to be investment grade with the objective of minimizing the potential risk of principal loss.


During the sixthree months ended March 26,December 31, 2016, cash generated from operating activities of $39.1$27.1 billion was a result of $28.9$17.9 billion of net income, non-cash adjustments to net income of $10.6$5.4 billion and a decreasean increase in the net change in operating assets and liabilities of $0.5$3.7 billion. Cash used in investing activities of $34.1$19.1 billion during the sixthree months ended March 26,December 31, 2016 consisted primarily of cash used for purchases of marketable securities, net of sales and maturities, of $27.0$15.6 billion and cash used to acquire property, plant and equipment of $5.9$3.3 billion. Cash used in financing activities of $4.6$12.0 billion during the sixthree months ended March 26,December 31, 2016 consisted primarily of cash used to repurchase common stock of $13.5$10.9 billion and cash used to pay dividends and dividend equivalents of $5.9$3.1 billion, partially offset by proceeds from issuancea net increase in commercial paper of term debt, net of $15.6$2.4 billion.

During the sixthree months ended March 28,December 26, 2015, cash generated from operating activities of $52.8$27.5 billion was a result of $31.6$18.4 billion of net income, non-cash adjustments to net income of $8.7$5.7 billion and an increase in the net change in operating assets and liabilities of $12.5$3.4 billion. Cash used in investing activities of $43.5$20.5 billion during the sixthree months ended March 28,December 26, 2015 consisted primarily of cash used for purchases of marketable securities, net of sales and maturities, of $37.7$16.1 billion and cash used to acquire property, plant and equipment of $5.6$3.6 billion. Cash used in financing activities of $8.7$11.4 billion during the sixthree months ended March 28,December 26, 2015 consisted primarily of cash used to repurchase common stock of $12.0$6.9 billion, and cash used to pay dividends and dividend equivalents of $5.5 billion and cash used for repayments of commercial paper, net of $2.5 billion, partially offset by proceeds from the issuance of term debt, net of $11.3$3.0 billion.

Capital Assets

The Company’s capital expenditures were $2.8$2.1 billion during the first six monthsquarter of 2016.2017. The Company anticipates utilizing approximately $15.0$16.0 billion for capital expenditures during 2016,2017, which includes product tooling and manufacturing process equipment; data centers; corporate facilities and infrastructure, including information systems hardware, software and enhancements; and retail store facilities.

Debt

The Company issues unsecured short-term promissory notes (“Commercial Paper”) pursuant to a commercial paper program. The Company uses the net proceeds from the commercial paper program for general corporate purposes, including dividends and share repurchases. As of March 26,December 31, 2016, the Company had $8.0$10.5 billion of Commercial Paper outstanding, with a weighted-average interest rate of 0.39%0.61% and maturities generally less than nine months.

As of March 26,December 31, 2016, the Company hashad outstanding floating- and fixed-rate notes with varying maturities for an aggregate principal amount of $71.3$77.4 billion (collectively the “Notes”). The Company has entered, and in the future may enter, into interest rate swaps to manage interest rate risk on the Notes. In addition, the Company has entered, and in the future may enter, into currency swaps to manage foreign currency risk on the Notes.

Further information regarding the Company’s debt issuances and related hedging activity can be found in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, in Note 2, “Financial Instruments” and Note 6, “Debt.”

Capital Return Program

In April 2015,2016, the Company’s Board of Directors increased the share repurchase program authorization from $90$140 billion to $140$175 billion of the Company’s common stock, increasing the expected total size of the capital return program from $200 billion to $200$250 billion. Additionally in April 2016, the Company announced that the Board of Directors raised the rate of the Company's quarterly cash dividend by 10% from $0.52 to $0.57 per share, beginning with the dividend paid during the third quarter of 2016. The Company intends to increase its dividend on an annual basis subject to declaration by the Board of Directors.
As of March 26,December 31, 2016, $117$144 billion of the share repurchase program has been utilized. The Company’s share repurchase program does not obligate it to acquire any specific number of shares. Under the program, shares may be repurchased in privately negotiated or open market transactions, including under plans complying with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act.


The following table presents the Company’s dividends, dividend equivalents, share repurchases and net share settlement activity from the start of the capital return program in August 2012 through March 26,December 31, 2016 (in millions):

                                                                                                                        
   Dividends and
Dividend
Equivalents
Paid
   Accelerated
Share
Repurchases
   Open Market
Share
Repurchases
   Taxes Related
to Settlement
of Equity
Awards
   Total 

Q2 2016

  $2,902    $0    $7,000    $154    $10,056  

Q1 2016

   2,969     3,000     3,000     597     9,566  

2015

   11,561     6,000     30,026     1,499     49,086  

2014

   11,126     21,000     24,000     1,158     57,284  

2013

   10,564     13,950     9,000     1,082     34,596  

2012

   2,488     0     0     56     2,544  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $41,610    $43,950    $73,026    $4,546    $163,132  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

On April 26, 2016, the Company announced that the Board of Directors increased the total capital return program from $200 billion to $250 billion, which includes an increase in the share repurchase authorization from $140 billion to $175 billion.

 
Dividends and
Dividend Equivalents Paid
 
Accelerated Share
Repurchases
 
Open Market
Share Repurchases
 
Taxes Related to Settlement 
of Equity Awards
 Total
Q1 2017$3,130
 $6,000
 $5,000
 $629
 $14,759
201612,150
 12,000
 17,000
 1,570
 42,720
201511,561
 6,000
 30,026
 1,499
 49,086
201411,126
 21,000
 24,000
 1,158
 57,284
201310,564
 13,950
 9,000
 1,082
 34,596
20122,488
 
 
 56
 2,544
Total$51,019
 $58,950
 $85,026
 $5,994
 $200,989
The Company expects to execute its capital return program by the end of March 2018 by paying dividends and dividend equivalents, repurchasing shares and remitting withheld taxes related to net share settlement of restricted stock units. The Company plans to continue to access the domestic and international debt markets to assist in funding its capital return program.

Additionally, the Company announced on April 26, 2016 that the Board of Directors raised the cash dividend by 10% to $0.57 per share, beginning with the dividend to be paid during the third quarter of 2016. The Company intends to increase its dividend on an annual basis subject to declaration by the Board of Directors.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

The Company has not entered into any transactions with unconsolidated entities whereby the Company has financial guarantees, subordinated retained interests, derivative instruments, or other contingent arrangements that expose the Company to material continuing risks, contingent liabilities, or any other obligation under a variable interest in an unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk, or credit risk support to the Company, or engages in leasing, hedging, or R&D services with the Company.

Operating Leases

As of December 31, 2016, the Company’s total future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases were $7.5 billion. The Company’s majorretail store and other facility leases are typically for terms not exceeding 10 years and generally contain multi-year renewal options. As of March 26, 2016, the Company had a total of 475 retail stores. Leases for retail space are for terms ranging from five to 20 years, the majority of which are for 10 years, and often contain multi-year renewal options. As of March 26, 2016, the Company’s total future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases were $6.8 billion, of which $3.9 billion related to leases for retail space.

Manufacturing Purchase Commitments

Obligations

The Company utilizes several outsourcing partners to manufacture sub-assemblies for the Company’s products and to perform final assembly and testing of finished products. These outsourcing partners acquire components and build product based on demand information supplied by the Company, which typically covers periods up to 150 days. The Company also obtains individual components for its products from a wide variety of individual suppliers. Consistent with industry practice, the Company acquires components through a combination of purchase orders, supplier contracts, and open orders based on projected demand information. Where appropriate, the purchases are applied to inventory component prepayments that are outstanding with the respective supplier. As of March 26,December 31, 2016, the Company had outstanding off-balance sheet third-party manufacturing commitments and component purchase commitments of $15.5 billion.

Other Obligations

In addition to the commitments mentioned above, the Company had other off-balance sheet obligations of $7.2 billion as of March 26, 2016 that consisted$24.0 billion.

Other Purchase Obligations
The Company’s other purchase obligations were comprised of commitments to acquire capital assets, including product tooling and manufacturing process equipment, and commitments related to inventory prepayments, advertising, licensing, R&D, internet and telecommunications services, energy and other obligations. Subsequent to March 26,As of December 31, 2016, the Company entered into an additionalhad other off-balance sheet obligationpurchase obligations of $4.0$6.7 billion.

The Company’s other non-current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets consist primarily of deferred tax liabilities, gross unrecognized tax benefits and the related gross interest and penalties. As of March 26,December 31, 2016, the Company had non-current deferred tax liabilities of $23.0 billion. Additionally, as of March 26, 2016, the Company had$26.9 billion, gross unrecognized tax benefits of $7.5$8.5 billion and an additional $1.5$1.2 billion for gross interest and penalties classified as non-current liabilities. At this time, the Company is unable to make a reasonably reliable estimate of the timing of payments due to uncertainties in the timing of tax audit outcomes.

penalties.

Indemnification

The Company generally does not indemnify end-users of its operating system and application software against legal claims that the software infringes third-party intellectual property rights. Other agreements entered into by the Company sometimes include indemnification provisions under which the Company could be subject to costs and/or damages in the event of an infringement claim against the Company or an indemnified third-party. In the opinion of management, there was not at least a reasonable possibility the Company may have incurred a material loss with respect to indemnification of end-users of its operating system or application software for infringement of third-party intellectual property rights.



The Company offers an iPhone Upgrade Program, which is available to customers who purchase ana qualifying iPhone 6sin the U.S., the U.K. and 6s Plus in one of its U.S. physical retail stores and activate the purchased iPhone with one of the four national carriers.mainland China. The iPhone Upgrade Program provides customers the right to trade in that iPhone for a specified amount when purchasing a new iPhone, provided certain conditions are met. One of the conditions of this program requires the customer to finance the initial purchase price of the iPhone with a third-party lender. Upon exercise of the trade-in right and purchase of a new iPhone, the Company satisfies the customer’s outstanding balance due to the third-party lender on the original device. The Company accounts for the trade-in right as a guarantee liability and recognizes arrangement revenue net of the fair value of such right with subsequent changes to the guarantee liability recognized within revenue.

The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and executive officers. Under these agreements, the Company has agreed to indemnify such individuals to the fullest extent permitted by law against liabilities that arise by reason of their status as directors or officers and to advance expenses incurred by such individuals in connection with related legal proceedings. It is not possible to determine the maximum potential amount of payments the Company could be required to make under these agreements due to the limited history of prior indemnification claims and the unique facts and circumstances involved in each claim. However, the Company maintains directors and officers liability insurance coverage to reduce its exposure to such obligations.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and the Company’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and operating results require the Company’s management to make judgments, assumptions and estimates that affect the amounts reported in its condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ from these estimates, and such differences may be material.

Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q and in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of the 20152016 Form 10-K, and “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in Part I, Item 7 of the 20152016 Form 10-K describe the significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. There have been no material changes to the Company’s critical accounting policies and estimates since the 20152016 Form 10-K.

Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

There have been no material changes to the Company’s market risk during the secondfirst quarter of 2016.2017. For a discussion of the Company’s exposure to market risk, refer to the Company’s market risk disclosures set forth in Part II, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” of the 20152016 Form 10-K.

Item 4.Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Based on an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act were effective as of March 26,December 31, 2016 to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the secondfirst quarter of 2016,2017, which were identified in connection with management’s evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.


PART II—II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.Legal Proceedings

The Company is subject to the legal proceedings and claims discussed below as well as certain other legal proceedings and claims that have not been fully resolved and that have arisen in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, there was not at least a reasonable possibility the Company may have incurred a material loss, or a material loss in excess of a recorded accrual, with respect to loss contingencies for asserted legal and other claims. However, the outcome of legal proceedings and claims brought against the Company is subject to significant uncertainty. Therefore, although management considers the likelihood of such an outcome to be remote, if one or more of these legal matters were resolved against the Company in a reporting period for amounts in excess of management’s expectations, the Company’s consolidated financial statements for that reporting period could be materially adversely affected. See the risk factor “The Company could be impacted byunfavorable results of legal proceedings, such as being found to have infringed on intellectual property rights” in Part II, Item 1A of this Form 10-Q under the heading “Risk Factors.” The Company settled certain matters during the secondfirst quarter of 20162017 that did not individually or in the aggregate have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or operating results.

Apple eBooks Antitrust Litigation (United States of America v. Apple Inc., et al.)

On April 11, 2012, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil antitrust action against the Company and five major book publishers in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleging an unreasonable restraint of interstate trade and commerce in violation of §1 of the Sherman Act and seeking, among other things, injunctive relief, the District Court’s declaration that the Company’s agency agreements with the publishers are null and void and/or the District Court’s reformation of such agreements. On July 10, 2013, the District Court found, following a bench trial, that the Company conspired to restrain trade in violation of §1 of the Sherman Act and relevant state statutes to the extent those laws are congruent with §1 of the Sherman Act. The District Court entered a permanent injunction, which took effect on October 6, 2013 and will be in effect for five years. The Company has taken the necessary steps to comply with the terms of the District Court’s order, including renegotiating agreements with the five major eBook publishers, updating its antitrust training program and completing a two-year monitorship with a court-appointed antitrust compliance monitor, whose appointment the District Court ended in October 2015. The Company appealed the District Court’s decision. Following the exhaustion of all appeals, the Company paid $450 million in April 2016 pursuant to a settlement agreement reached in June 2014.

Item 1A.Risk Factors

The following description of risk factors includes any material changes to, and supersedes the description of, risk factors associated with the Company’s business previously disclosed in Part I, Item 1A of the 20152016 Form 10-K and in Part II, Item 1A of the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 26, 2015, in each case under the heading “Risk Factors.” The business, financial condition and operating results of the Company can be affected by a number of factors, whether currently known or unknown, including but not limited to those described below, any one or more of which could, directly or indirectly, cause the Company’s actual financial condition and operating results to vary materially from past, or from anticipated future, financial condition and operating results. Any of these factors, in whole or in part, could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, operating results and stock price.

The following discussion of risk factors contains forward-looking statements. These risk factors may be important to understanding other statements in this Form 10-Q. The following information should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes in Part I, Item 1, “Financial Statements” and Part I, Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of this Form 10-Q.

Because of the following factors, as well as other factors affecting the Company’s financial condition and operating results, past financial performance should not be considered to be a reliable indicator of future performance, and investors should not use historical trends to anticipate results or trends in future periods.

Global and regional economic conditions could materially adversely affect the Company.

The Company’s operations and performance depend significantly on global and regional economic conditions. Uncertainty about global and regional economic conditions poses a risk as consumers and businesses may postpone spending in response to tighter credit, higher unemployment, financial market volatility, government austerity programs, negative financial news, declines in income or asset values and/or other factors. These worldwide and regional economic conditions could have a material adverse effect on demand for the Company’s products and services. Demand also could differ materially from the Company’s expectations as a result of currency fluctuations because the Company generally raises prices on goods and services sold outside the U.S. to correspond with the effect of a strengthening of the U.S. dollar. Other factors that could influence worldwide or regional demand include changes in fuel and other energy costs, conditions in the real estate and mortgage markets, unemployment, labor and healthcare costs, access to credit, consumer confidence and other macroeconomic factors affecting consumer spending behavior. These and other economic factors could materially adversely affect demand for the Company’s products and services.

In the event of financial turmoil affecting the banking system and financial markets, additional consolidation of the financial services industry, or significant financial service institution failures, there could be tightening in the credit markets, low liquidity and extreme volatility in fixed income, credit, currency and equity markets. This could have a number of effects on the Company’s business, including the insolvency or financial instability of outsourcing partners or suppliers or their inability to obtain credit to finance development and/or manufacture products resulting in product delays; inability of customers, including channel partners, to obtain credit to finance purchases of the Company’s products; failure of derivative counterparties and other financial institutions; and restrictions on the Company’s ability to issue new debt. Other income and expense also could vary materially from expectations depending on gains or losses realized on the sale or exchange of financial instruments; impairment charges resulting from revaluations of debt and equity securities and other investments; changes in interest rates; increases or decreases in cash balances; volatility in foreign exchange rates; and changes in fair value of derivative instruments. Increased volatility in the financial markets and overall economic uncertainty would increase the risk of the actual amounts realized in the future on the Company’s financial instruments differing significantly from the fair values currently assigned to them.


Global markets for the Company’s products and services are highly competitive and subject to rapid technological change, and the Company may be unable to compete effectively in these markets.

The Company’s products and services compete in highly competitive global markets characterized by aggressive price cutting and resulting downward pressure on gross margins, frequent introduction of new products, short product life cycles, evolving industry standards, continual improvement in product price/performance characteristics, rapid adoption of technological and product advancements by competitors and price sensitivity on the part of consumers.

The Company’s ability to compete successfully depends heavily on its ability to ensure a continuing and timely introduction of innovative new products, services and technologies to the marketplace. The Company believes it is unique in that it designs and develops nearly the entire solution for its products, including the hardware, operating system, numerous software applications and related services. As a result, the Company must make significant investments in R&D. The Company currently holds a significant number of patents and copyrights and has registered and/or has applied to register numerous patents, trademarks and service marks. In contrast, many of the Company’s competitors seek to compete primarily through aggressive pricing and very low cost structures, and emulating the Company’sCompany's products and infringing on its intellectual property. If the Company is unable to continue to develop and sell innovative new products with attractive margins or if competitors infringe on the Company’s intellectual property, the Company’s ability to maintain a competitive advantage could be adversely affected.

The Company markets certain mobile communication and media devices based on the iOS mobile operating system and also markets related services, including third-party digital content and applications. The Company faces substantial competition in these markets from companies that have significant technical, marketing, distribution and other resources, as well as established hardware, software and digital content supplier relationships; and the Company has a minority market share in the global smartphone market. Additionally, the Company faces significant price competition as competitors reduce their selling prices and attempt to imitate the Company’s product features and applications within their own products or, alternatively, collaborate with each other to offer solutions that are more competitive than those they currently offer. The Company competes with business models that provide content to users for free. The Company also competes with illegitimate means to obtain third-party digital content and applications. Some of the Company’s competitors have greater experience, product breadth and distribution channels than the Company. Because some current and potential competitors have substantial resources and/or experience and a lower cost structure, they may be able to provide products and services at little or no profit or even at a loss. The Company also expects competition to intensify as competitors attempt to imitate the Company’s approach to providing components seamlessly within their individual offerings or work collaboratively to offer integrated solutions. The Company’s financial condition and operating results depend substantially on the Company’s ability to continually improve iOS and iOS devices in order to maintain their functional and design advantages.

The Company is the only authorized maker of hardware using OS X,macOS, which has a minority market share in the personal computer market. This market has been contracting and is dominated by computer makers using competing operating systems, most notably Windows. In the market for personal computers and accessories, the Company faces a significant number of competitors, many of which have broader product lines, lower priced products and a larger installed customer base. Historically, consolidation in this market has resulted in larger competitors. Price competition has been particularly intense as competitors selling Windows-based personal computers have aggressively cut prices and lowered product margins. An increasing number of internet-enabled devices that include software applications and are smaller and simpler than traditional personal computers compete for market share with the Company’s existing products. The Company’s financial condition and operating results also depend on its ability to continually improve the Mac platform to maintain its functional and design advantages.

There can be no assurance the Company will be able to continue to provide products and services that compete effectively.

To remain competitive and stimulate customer demand, the Company must successfully manage frequent product introductions and transitions.

Due to the highly volatile and competitive nature of the industries in which the Company competes, the Company must continually introduce new products, services and technologies, enhance existing products and services, effectively stimulate customer demand for new and upgraded products and successfully manage the transition to these new and upgraded products. The success of new product introductions depends on a number of factors including, but not limited to, timely and successful product development, market acceptance, the Company’s ability to manage the risks associated with new product production ramp-up issues, the availability of application software for new products, the effective management of purchase commitments and inventory levels in line with anticipated product demand, the availability of products in appropriate quantities and at expected costs to meet anticipated demand and the risk that new products may have quality or other defects or deficiencies in the early stages of introduction. Accordingly, the Company cannot determine in advance the ultimate effect of new product introductions and transitions.


The Company depends on the performance of distributors, carriers and other resellers.

The Company distributes its products through cellular network carriers, wholesalers, national and regional retailers and value-added resellers, many of whom distribute products from competing manufacturers. The Company also sells its products and third-party products in most of its major markets directly to education, enterprise and government customers and consumers and small and mid-sized businesses through its retail and online and retail stores.

Carriers

Some carriers providing cellular network service for iPhone typically subsidize users’ purchases of the device. There is no assurance that such subsidies will be continued at all or in the same amounts upon renewal of the Company’s agreements with these carriers or in agreements the Company enters into with new carriers.

Many resellers have narrow operating margins and have been adversely affected in the past by weak economic conditions. Some resellers have perceived the expansion of the Company’s direct sales as conflicting with their business interests as distributors and resellers of the Company’s products. Such a perception could discourage resellers from investing resources in the distribution and sale of the Company’s products or lead them to limit or cease distribution of those products.

The Company has invested and will continue to invest in programs to enhance reseller sales, including staffing selected resellers’ stores with Company employees and contractors, and improving product placement displays. These programs could require a substantial investment while providing no assurance of return or incremental revenue. The financial condition of these resellers could weaken, these resellers could stop distributing the Company’s products, or uncertainty regarding demand for some or all of the Company’s products could cause resellers to reduce their ordering and marketing of the Company’s products.

The Company faces substantial inventory and other asset risk in addition to purchase commitment cancellation risk.

The Company records a write-down for product and component inventories that have become obsolete or exceed anticipated demand or net realizable value and accrues necessary cancellation fee reserves for orders of excess products and components. The Company also reviews its long-lived assets, including capital assets held at its suppliers’ facilities and inventory prepayments, for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If the Company determines that impairment has occurred, it records a write-down equal to the amount by which the carrying value of the assets exceeds its fair value. Although the Company believes its provisions related to inventory, capital assets, inventory prepayments and other assets and purchase commitments are currently adequate, no assurance can be given that the Company will not incur additional related charges given the rapid and unpredictable pace of product obsolescence in the industries in which the Company competes.

The Company must order components for its products and build inventory in advance of product announcements and shipments. Consistent with industry practice, components are normally acquired through a combination of purchase orders, supplier contracts and open orders, in each case based on projected demand. Where appropriate, the purchases are applied to inventory component prepayments that are outstanding with the respective supplier. Purchase commitmentsManufacturing purchase obligations typically cover forecasted component and manufacturing requirements for periods up to 150 days. Because the Company’s markets are volatile, competitive and subject to rapid technology and price changes, there is a risk the Company will forecast incorrectly and order or produce excess or insufficient amounts of components or products, or not fully utilize firm purchase commitments.

Future operating results depend upon the Company’s ability to obtain components in sufficient quantities.

quantities on commercially reasonable terms.

Because the Company currently obtains components from single or limited sources, the Company is subject to significant supply and pricing risks. Many components, including those that are available from multiple sources, are at times subject to industry-wide shortages and significant commodity pricing fluctuations. While the Company has entered into agreements for the supply of many components, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to extend or renew these agreements on similar terms, or at all. A number of suppliers of components may suffer from poor financial conditions, which can lead to business failure for the supplier or consolidation within a particular industry, further limiting the Company’s ability to obtain sufficient quantities of components.components on commercially reasonable terms. The effects of global or regional economic conditions on the Company’s suppliers, described in “Global and regional economic conditions could materially adversely affect the Company” above, also could affect the Company’s ability to obtain components.Therefore, the Company remains subject to significant risks of supply shortages and price increases.

The Company and other participants in the markets for mobile communication and media devices and personal computers also compete for various components with other industries that have experienced increased demand for their products. The Company uses some custom components that are not common to the rest of these industries.

The Company’s new products often utilize custom components available from only one source. When a component or product uses new technologies, initial capacity constraints may exist until the suppliers’ yields have matured or manufacturing capacity has increased. Continued availability of these components at acceptable prices, or at all, may be affected for any number of reasons, including if those suppliers decide to concentrate on the production of common components instead of components customized to meet the Company’s requirements. The supply of components for a new or existing product could be delayed or constrained, or a key manufacturing vendor could delay shipments of completed products to the Company.


The Company depends on component and product manufacturing and logistical services provided by outsourcing partners, many of which are located outside of the U.S.

Substantially all of the Company’s manufacturing is performed in whole or in part by a few outsourcing partners located primarily in Asia. The Company has also outsourced much of its transportation and logistics management. While these arrangements may lower operating costs, they also reduce the Company’s direct control over production and distribution. It is uncertain what effect such diminished control will have on the quality or quantity of products or services, or the Company’s flexibility to respond to changing conditions. Although arrangements with these partners may contain provisions for warranty expense reimbursement, the Company may remain responsible to the consumer for warranty service in the event of product defects and could experience an unanticipated product defect or warranty liability. While the Company relies on its partners to adhere to its supplier code of conduct, material violations of the supplier code of conduct could occur.

The Company relies on sole-sourced outsourcing partners in the U.S., Asia and Europe to supply and manufacture many critical components, and on outsourcing partners primarily located in Asia, for final assembly of substantially all of the Company’s hardware products. Any failure of these partners to perform may have a negative impact on the Company’s cost or supply of components or finished goods. In addition, manufacturing or logistics in these locations or transit to final destinations may be disrupted for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to, natural and man-made disasters, information technology system failures, commercial disputes, military actions or economic, business, labor, environmental, public health, or political issues.

The Company has invested in manufacturing process equipment, much of which is held at certain of its outsourcing partners, and has made prepayments to certain of its suppliers associated with long-term supply agreements. While these arrangements help ensure the supply of components and finished goods, if these outsourcing partners or suppliers experience severe financial problems or other disruptions in their business, such continued supply could be reduced or terminated and the net realizable value of these assets could be negatively impacted.

The Company’s products and services may experience quality problems from time to time that can result in decreased sales and operating margin and harm to the Company’s reputation.

The Company sells complex hardware and software products and services that can contain design and manufacturing defects. Sophisticated operating system software and applications, such as those sold by the Company, often contain “bugs” that can unexpectedly interfere with the software’s intended operation. The Company’s online services may from time to time experience outages, service slowdowns, or errors. Defects may also occur in components and products the Company purchases from third parties. There can be no assurance the Company will be able to detect and fix all defects in the hardware, software and services it sells. Failure to do so could result in lost revenue, significant warranty and other expenses and harm to the Company’s reputation.

The Company relies on access to third-party digital content, which may not be available to the Company on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

The Company contracts with numerous third parties to offer their digital content to customers. This includes the right to sell currently available music, movies, TV shows and books. The licensing or other distribution arrangements with these third parties are for relatively short terms and do not guarantee the continuation or renewal of these arrangements on reasonable terms, if at all. Some third-party content providers and distributors currently or in the future may offer competing products and services, and could take action to make it more difficult or impossible for the Company to license or otherwise distribute their content in the future. Other content owners, providers or distributors may seek to limit the Company’s access to, or increase the cost of, such content. The Company may be unable to continue to offer a wide variety of content at reasonable prices with acceptable usage rules, or continue to expand its geographic reach. Failure to obtain the right to make available third-party digital content, or to make available such content on commercially reasonable terms, could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

Some third-party digital content providers require the Company to provide digital rights management and other security solutions. If requirements change, the Company may have to develop or license new technology to provide these solutions. There is no assurance the Company will be able to develop or license such solutions at a reasonable cost and in a timely manner. In addition, certain countries have passed or may propose and adopt legislation that would force the Company to license its digital rights management, which could lessen the protection of content and subject it to piracy and also could negatively affect arrangements with the Company’s content providers.


The Company’s future performance depends in part on support fromthird-party software developers.

The Company believes decisions by customers to purchase its hardware products depend in part on the availability ofthird-party third‑party software applications and services. There is no assurance that third-party developers will continue to develop and maintain software applications and services for the Company’s products. If third-party software applications and services cease to be developed and maintained for the Company’s products, customers may choose not to buy the Company’s products.

With respect to its Mac products, the Company believes the availability ofthird-party third‑party software applications and services depends in part on the developers’ perception and analysis of the relative benefits of developing, maintaining and upgrading such software for the Company’s products compared to Windows-based products. This analysis may be based on factors such as the market position of the Company and its products, the anticipated revenue that may be generated, expected future growth of Mac sales and the costs of developing such applications and services. If the Company’s minority share of the global personal computer market causes developers to question the Mac’s prospects, developers could be less inclined to develop or upgrade software for the Company’s Mac products and more inclined to devote their resources to developing and upgrading software for the larger Windows market.

With respect to iOS devices, the Company relies on the continued availability and development of compelling and innovative software applications, which areincluding applications distributed through a single distribution channel, the App Store. iOS devices are subject to rapid technological change, and, if third-party developers are unable to or choose not to keep up with this pace of change, third-party applications might not successfully operate and may result in dissatisfied customers. As with applications for the Company’s Mac products, the availability and development of these applications also depend on developers’ perceptions and analysis of the relative benefits of developing, maintaining or upgrading software for the Company’s iOS devices rather than its competitors’ platforms, such as Android. If developers focus their efforts on these competing platforms, the availability and quality of applications for the Company’s iOS devices may suffer.

The Company relies on access to third-party intellectual property, which may not be available to the Company on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

Many of the Company’s products include third-party intellectual property, which requires licenses from those third parties. Based on past experience and industry practice, the Company believes such licenses generally can be obtained on reasonable terms. There is, however, no assurance that the necessary licenses can be obtained on acceptable terms or at all. Failure to obtain the right to use third-party intellectual property, or to use such intellectual property on commercially reasonable terms, could preclude the Company from selling certain products or otherwise have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

The Company could be impacted by unfavorable results of legal proceedings, such as being found to have infringed on intellectual property rights.

The Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims that have not yet been fully resolved and that have arisen in the ordinary course of business, and additional claims may arise in the future.

For example, technology companies, including many of the Company’s competitors, frequently enter into litigation based on allegations of patent infringement or other violations of intellectual property rights. In addition, patent holding companies seek to monetize patents they have purchased or otherwise obtained. As the Company has grown, theThe intellectual property rights claims against itthe Company have generally increased over time and may continue to increase. In particular, the Company’sCompany's cellular enabled products compete with products from mobile communication and media device companies that hold significant patent portfolios, and the Company has faced a significant number of patent claims against the Company has significantly increased.it. The Company is vigorously defending infringement actions in courts in a number of U.S. jurisdictions and before the U.S. International Trade Commission, as well as internationally in various countries. The plaintiffs in these actions frequently seek injunctions and substantial damages.

Regardless of the scope or validity of such patents or other intellectual property rights, or the merits of any claims by potential or actual litigants, the Company may have to engage in protracted litigation. If the Company is found to infringe one or more patents or other intellectual property rights, regardless of whether it can develop non-infringing technology, it may be required to pay substantial damages or royalties to a third-party, or it may be subject to a temporary or permanent injunction prohibiting the Company from marketing or selling certain products.

In certain cases, the Company may consider the desirability of entering into licensing agreements, although no assurance can be given that such licenses can be obtained on acceptable terms or that litigation will not occur. These licenses may also significantly increase the Company’s operating expenses.


Regardless of the merit of particular claims, litigation may be expensive, time-consuming, disruptive to the Company’s operations and distracting to management. In recognition of these considerations, the Company may enter into arrangements to settle litigation.

In management’s opinion, there is not at least a reasonable possibility the Company may have incurred a material loss, or a material loss in excess of a recorded accrual, with respect to loss contingencies, including matters related to infringement of intellectual property rights. However, the outcome of litigation is inherently uncertain.

Although management considers the likelihood of such an outcome to be remote, if one or more legal matters were resolved against the Company in a reporting period for amounts in excess of management’s expectations, the Company’s consolidated financial statements for that reporting period could be materially adversely affected. Further, such an outcome could result in significant compensatory, punitive or trebled monetary damages, disgorgement of revenue or profits, remedial corporate measures or injunctive relief against the Company that could materially adversely affect its financial condition and operating results.

The Company is subject to laws and regulations worldwide, changes to which could increase the Company’s costs and individually or in the aggregate adversely affect the Company’s business.

The Company is subject to laws and regulations affecting its domestic and international operations in a number of areas. These U.S. and foreign laws and regulations affect the Company’s activities including, but not limited to, in areas of labor, advertising, digital content, consumer protection, real estate, billing, e-commerce, promotions, quality of services, telecommunications, mobile communications and media, television, intellectual property ownership and infringement, tax, import and export requirements, anti-corruption, foreign exchange controls and cash repatriation restrictions, data privacy requirements, anti-competition, environmental, health and safety.

By way of example, laws and regulations related to mobile communications and media devices in the many jurisdictions in which the Company operates are extensive and subject to change. Such changes could include, among others, restrictions on the production, manufacture, distribution and use of devices, locking devices to a carrier’s network, or mandating the use of devices on more than one carrier’s network. These devices are also subject to certification and regulation by governmental and standardization bodies, as well as by cellular network carriers for use on their networks. These certification processes are extensive and time consuming, and could result in additional testing requirements, product modifications, or delays in product shipment dates, or could preclude the Company from selling certain products.

Compliance with these laws, regulations and similar requirements may be onerous and expensive, and they may be inconsistent from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, further increasing the cost of compliance and doing business. Any such costs, which may rise in the future as a result of changes in these laws and regulations or in their interpretation, could individually or in the aggregate make the Company’s products and services less attractive to the Company’s customers, delay the introduction of new products in one or more regions, or cause the Company to change or limit its business practices. The Company has implemented policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, but there can be no assurance that the Company’s employees, contractors, or agents will not violate such laws and regulations or the Company’s policies and procedures.

The Company’s business is subject to the risks of international operations.

The Company derives a significant portion of its revenue and earnings from its international operations. Compliance with applicable U.S. and foreign laws and regulations, such as import and export requirements, anti-corruption laws, tax laws, foreign exchange controls and cash repatriation restrictions, data privacy requirements, environmental laws, labor laws and anti-competition regulations, increases the costs of doing business in foreign jurisdictions. Although the Company has implemented policies and procedures to comply with these laws and regulations, a violation by the Company’s employees, contractors, or agents could nevertheless occur. In some cases, compliance with the laws and regulations of one country could violate the laws and regulations of another country. Violations of these laws and regulations could materially adversely affect the Company’s brand, international growth efforts and business.

The Company also could be significantly affected by other risks associated with international activities including, but not limited to, economic and labor conditions, increased duties, taxes and other costs and political instability. Margins on sales of the Company’s products in foreign countries, and on sales of products that include components obtained from foreign suppliers, could be materially adversely affected by international trade regulations, including duties, tariffs and antidumping penalties. The Company is also exposed to credit and collectability risk on its trade receivables with customers in certain international markets. There can be no assurance the Company can effectively limit its credit risk and avoid losses.


The Company’s retail stores have required and will continue to require a substantial investment and commitment of resources and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties.

The Company’s retail stores have required substantial investment in equipment and leasehold improvements, information systems, inventory and personnel. The Company also has entered into substantial operating lease commitments for retail space. Certain stores have been designed and built to serve as high-profile venues to promote brand awareness and serve as vehicles for corporate sales and marketing activities. Because of their unique design elements, locations and size, these stores require substantially more investment than the Company’s more typical retail stores. Due to the high cost structure associated with the Company’s retail stores, a decline in sales or the closure or poor performance of individual or multiple stores could result in significant lease termination costs, write-offs of equipment and leasehold improvements and severance costs.

Many factors unique to retail operations, some of which are beyond the Company’s control, pose risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, macro-economic factors that could have an adverse effect on general retail activity, as well as the Company’s inability to manage costs associated with store construction and operation, the Company’s failure to manage relationships with its existing retail partners, more challenging environments in managing retail operations outside the U.S., costs associated with unanticipated fluctuations in the value of retail inventory, and the Company’s inability to obtain and renew leases in quality retail locations at a reasonable cost.

Investment in new business strategies and acquisitions could disrupt the Company’s ongoing business and present risks not originally contemplated.

The Company has invested, and in the future may invest, in new business strategies or acquisitions. Such endeavors may involve significant risks and uncertainties, including distraction of management from current operations, greater than expected liabilities and expenses, inadequate return of capital and unidentified issues not discovered in the Company’s due diligence. These new ventures are inherently risky and may not be successful.

The Company’s business and reputation may be impacted by information technology system failures or network disruptions.

The Company may be subject to information technology system failures and network disruptions. These may be caused by natural disasters, accidents, power disruptions, telecommunications failures, acts of terrorism or war, computer viruses, physical or electronic break-ins, or other events or disruptions. System redundancy may be ineffective or inadequate, and the Company’s disaster recovery planning may not be sufficient for all eventualities. Such failures or disruptions could, among other things, prevent access to the Company’s online stores and services, preclude retail store transactions, compromise Company or customer data, and result in delayed or cancelled orders. System failures and disruptions could also impede the manufacturing and shipping of products, delivery of online services, transactions processing and financial reporting.

There may be breaches of the Company’s information technology systems that materially damage business partner and customer relationships, curtail or otherwise adversely impact access to online stores and services, or subject the Company to significant reputational, financial, legal and operational consequences.

The Company’s business requires it to use and store customer, employee and business partner personally identifiable information (“PII”). This may include, among other information, names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, contact preferences, tax identification numbers and payment account information. Although malicious attacks to gain access to PII affect many companies across various industries, the Company is at a relatively greater risk of being targeted because of its high profile and the amount of PII it manages.

The Company requires user names and passwords in order to access its information technology systems. The Company also uses encryption and authentication technologies designed to secure the transmission and storage of data and prevent access to Company data or accounts. As with all companies, these security measures are subject to third-party security breaches, employee error, malfeasance, faulty password management, or other irregularities. For example, third parties may attempt to fraudulently induce employees or customers into disclosing user names, passwords or other sensitive information, which may in turn be used to access the Company’s information technology systems. To help protect customers and the Company, the Company monitors accounts and systems for unusual activity and may freeze accounts under suspicious circumstances, which may result in the delay or loss of customer orders.


The Company devotes significant resources to network security, data encryption and other security measures to protect its systems and data, but these security measures cannot provide absolute security. To the extent the Company was to experience a breach of its systems and was unable to protect sensitive data, such a breach could materially damage business partner and customer relationships, and curtail or otherwise adversely impact access to online stores and services. Moreover, if a computer security breach affects the Company’s systems or results in the unauthorized release of PII, the Company’s reputation and brand could be materially damaged, use of the Company’s products and services could decrease, and the Company could be exposed to a risk of loss or litigation and possible liability. While the Company maintains insurance coverage that, subject to policy terms and conditions and subject to a significant self-insured retention, is designed to address certain aspects of cyber risks, such insurance coverage may be insufficient to cover all losses or all types of claims that may arise in the continually evolving area of cyber risk.

The Company is also subject to payment card association rules and obligations under its contracts with payment card processors. Under these rules and obligations, if information is compromised, the Company could be liable to payment card issuers for associated expenses and penalties. In addition, if the Company fails to follow payment card industry security standards, even if no customer information is compromised, the Company could incur significant fines or experience a significant increase in payment card transaction costs.

The Company’s business is subject to a variety of U.S. and international laws, rules, policies and other obligations regarding data protection.

The Company is subject to federal, state and international laws relating to the collection, use, retention, security and transfer of PII. In many cases, these laws apply not only to third-party transactions, but also may restrict transfers of PII among the Company and its international subsidiaries. Several jurisdictions have passed laws in this area, and other jurisdictions are considering imposing additional restrictions. These laws continue to develop and may be inconsistent from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Complying with emerging and changing international requirements may cause the Company to incur substantial costs or require the Company to change its business practices. Noncompliance could result in significant penalties or legal liability.

The Company makes statements about its use and disclosure of PII through its privacy policy, information provided on its website and press statements. Any failure by the Company to comply with these public statements or with other federal, state or international privacy-related or data protection laws and regulations could result in proceedings against the Company by governmental entities or others. Penalties could include ongoing audit requirements or significant legal liability.

The Company’s success depends largely on the continued service and availability of key personnel.

Much of the Company’s future success depends on the continued availability and service of key personnel, including its Chief Executive Officer, executive team and other highly skilled employees. Experienced personnel in the technology industry are in high demand and competition for their talents is intense, especially in Silicon Valley, where most of the Company’s key personnel are located.

The Company’s business may be impacted by political events, war, terrorism, public health issues, natural disasters and other business interruptions.

War, terrorism, geopolitical uncertainties, public health issues and other business interruptions have caused and could cause damage or disruption to international commerce and the global economy, and thus could have a material adverse effect on the Company, its suppliers, logistics providers, manufacturing vendors and customers, including channel partners. The Company’s business operations are subject to interruption by, among others, natural disasters, whether as a result of climate change or otherwise, fire, power shortages, nuclear power plant accidents and other industrial accidents, terrorist attacks and other hostile acts, labor disputes, public health issues and other events beyond its control. Such events could decrease demand for the Company’s products, make it difficult or impossible for the Company to make and deliver products to its customers, including channel partners, or to receive components from its suppliers, and create delays and inefficiencies in the Company’s supply chain. While the Company's suppliers are required to maintain safe working environments and operations, an industrial accident could occur and could result in disruption to the Company's business and harm to the Company's reputation. Should major public health issues, including pandemics, arise, the Company could be adversely affected by more stringent employee travel restrictions, additional limitations in freight services, governmental actions limiting the movement of products between regions, delays in production ramps of new products and disruptions in the operations of the Company’s manufacturing vendors and component suppliers. The majority of the Company’s R&D activities, its corporate headquarters, information technology systems and other critical business operations, including certain component suppliers and manufacturing vendors, are in locations that could be affected by natural disasters. In the event of a natural disaster, the Company could incur significant losses, require substantial recovery time and experience significant expenditures in order to resume operations.


The Company expects its quarterly revenue and operating results to fluctuate.

The Company’s profit margins vary across its products and distribution channels. The Company’s software, accessories, and service and support contracts generally have higher gross margins than certain of the Company’s other products. Gross margins on the Company’s hardware products vary across product lines and can change over time as a result of product transitions, pricing and configuration changes, and component, warranty, and other cost fluctuations. The Company’s direct sales generally have higher associated gross margins than its indirect sales through its channel partners. In addition, the Company’s gross margin and operating margin percentages, as well as overall profitability, may be materially adversely impacted as a result of a shift in product, geographic or channel mix, component cost increases, the strengthening U.S. dollar, price competition, or the introduction of new products, including those that have higher cost structures with flat or reduced pricing.

The Company has typically experienced higher net sales in its first quarter compared to other quarters due in part to seasonal holiday demand. Additionally, new product introductions can significantly impact net sales, product costs and operating expenses. Further, the Company generates a majority of its net sales from a single product and a decline in demand for that product could significantly impact quarterly net sales. The Company could also be subject to unexpected developments late in a quarter, such as lower-than-anticipated demand for the Company’s products, issues with new product introductions, an internal systems failure, or failure of one of the Company’s logistics, components supply, or manufacturing partners.

The Company’s stock price is subject to volatility.

The Company’s stock price has experienced substantial price volatility in the past and may continue to do so in the future. Additionally, the Company, the technology industry and the stock market as a whole have experienced extreme stock price and volume fluctuations that have affected stock prices in ways that may have been unrelated to these companies’ operating performance. Price volatility over a given period may cause the average price at which the Company repurchases its own stock to exceed the stock’s price at a given point in time. The Company believes its stock price should reflect expectations of future growth and profitability. The Company also believes its stock price should reflect expectations that its cash dividend will continue at current levels or grow and that its current share repurchase program will be fully consummated. Future dividends are subject to declaration by the Company’s Board of Directors, and the Company’s share repurchase program does not obligate it to acquire any specific number of shares. If the Company fails to meet expectations related to future growth, profitability, dividends, share repurchases or other market expectations, its stock price may decline significantly, which could have a material adverse impact on investor confidence and employee retention.

The Company’s financial performance is subject to risks associated with changes in the value of the U.S. dollar versus local currencies.

The Company’s primary exposure to movements in foreign currency exchange rates relates to non-U.S. dollar-denominated sales and operating expenses worldwide. Weakening of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar adversely affects the U.S. dollar value of the Company’s foreign currency-denominated sales and earnings, and generally leads the Company to raise international pricing, potentially reducing demand for the Company’s products. Margins on sales of the Company’s products in foreign countries and on sales of products that include components obtained from foreign suppliers, could be materially adversely affected by foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. In some circumstances, for competitive or other reasons, the Company may decide not to raise local prices to fully offset the dollar’s strengthening, or at all, which would adversely affect the U.S. dollar value of the Company’s foreign currency-denominated sales and earnings. Conversely, a strengthening of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar, while generally beneficial to the Company’s foreign currency-denominated sales and earnings, could cause the Company to reduce international pricing and incur losses on its foreign currency derivative instruments, thereby limiting the benefit. Additionally, strengthening of foreign currencies may also increase the Company’s cost of product components denominated in those currencies, thus adversely affecting gross margins.

The Company uses derivative instruments, such as foreign currency forward and option contracts, to hedge certain exposures to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. The use of such hedging activities may not offset any, or more than a portion, of the adverse financial effects of unfavorable movements in foreign exchange rates over the limited time the hedges are in place.

The Company is exposed to credit risk and fluctuations in the market values of its investment portfolio.

Given the global nature of its business, the Company has both domestic and international investments. Credit ratings and pricing of the Company’s investments can be negatively affected by liquidity, credit deterioration, financial results, economic risk, political risk, sovereign risk or other factors. As a result, the value and liquidity of the Company’s cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities may fluctuate substantially. Therefore, although the Company has not realized any significant losses on its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, future fluctuations in their value could result in a significant realized loss.


The Company is exposed to credit risk on its trade accounts receivable, vendor non-trade receivables and prepayments related to long-term supply agreements, and this risk is heightened during periods when economic conditions worsen.

The Company distributes its products through third-party cellular network carriers, wholesalers, retailers and value-added resellers. The Company also sells its products directly to small and mid-sized businesses and education, enterprise and government customers. A substantial majority of the Company’s outstanding trade receivables are not covered by collateral, third-party financing arrangements or credit insurance. The Company’s exposure to credit and collectability risk on its trade receivables is higher in certain international markets and its ability to mitigate such risks may be limited. The Company also has unsecured vendor non-trade receivables resulting from purchases of components by outsourcing partners and other vendors that manufacture sub-assemblies or assemble final products for the Company. In addition, the Company has made prepayments associated with long-term supply agreements to secure supply of inventory components. As of March 26,December 31, 2016, a significant portion of the Company’s trade receivables was concentrated within cellular network carriers, and its vendor non-trade receivables and prepayments related to long-term supply agreements were concentrated among a few individual vendors located primarily in Asia. While the Company has procedures to monitor and limit exposure to credit risk on its trade and vendor non-trade receivables, as well as long-term prepayments, there can be no assurance such procedures will effectively limit its credit risk and avoid losses.

The Company could be subject to changes in its tax rates, the adoption of new U.S. or international tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities.

The Company is subject to taxes in the U.S. and numerous foreign jurisdictions, including Ireland, where a number of the Company’s subsidiaries are organized. Due to economic and political conditions, tax rates in various jurisdictions may be subject to significant change. The Company’s effective tax rates could be affected by changes in the mix of earnings in countries with differing statutory tax rates, changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, or changes in tax laws or their interpretation, including in the U.S. and Ireland. For example, in June 2014, the European Commission opened a formal investigation of Ireland to examine whether decisions by the tax authorities with regard to the corporate income tax to be paid by two of the Company’s Irish subsidiaries comply with European Union rules on state aid. If the European Commission were to conclude against Ireland, it could require Ireland to recover from the Company past taxes covering a period of up to 10 years reflective of the disallowed state aid, and such amount could be material.

The Company is also subject to the examination of its tax returns and other tax matters by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities and governmental bodies. The Company regularly assesses the likelihood of an adverse outcome resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of its provision for taxes. There can be no assurance as to the outcome of these examinations. If the Company’s effective tax rates were to increase, particularly in the U.S. or Ireland, or if the ultimate determination of the Company’s taxes owed is for an amount in excess of amounts previously accrued, the Company’s financial condition, operating results and cash flows could be adversely affected.


Item 2.Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
Share repurchase activity during the three months ended March 26,December 31, 2016 was as follows (in millions, except number of shares, which are reflected in thousands, and per share amounts):

                                                                                                

Periods

  Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
   Average
Price Paid
Per Share
   Total Number of
Shares
Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs
   Approximate
Dollar Value of
Shares That
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under the Plans
or Programs
(1)
 

December 27, 2015 to January 30, 2016:

        

Open market and privately negotiated purchases

   5,270    $94.87     5,270    

January 31, 2016 to February 27, 2016:

        

Open market and privately negotiated purchases

   47,132    $95.48     47,132    

February 28, 2016 to March 26, 2016:

        

Open market and privately negotiated purchases

   19,364    $103.28     19,364    
  

 

 

       

Total

   71,766        $23,024  
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Periods 
Total Number
of Shares Purchased
 
Average Price
Paid Per Share
 
Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or Programs
 
Approximate Dollar Value of
Shares That May Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans or Programs (1)
September 25, 2016 to October 29, 2016:        
Open market and privately negotiated purchases 8,675
 $115.28
 8,675
  
         
October 30, 2016 to November 26, 2016:        
August 2016 ASR 4,382
 
(2) 

 4,382
  
November 2016 ASR 44,814
(3) 
(3) 

 44,814
(3) 
 
Open market and privately negotiated purchases 14,084
 $109.90
 14,084
  
         
November 27, 2016 to December 31, 2016:        
Open market and privately negotiated purchases 21,574
 $113.66
 21,574
  
Total 93,529
     $31,024
(1)

In 2012,April 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a program to repurchase up to $10 billion of the Company’s common stock beginning in 2013. The Company’s Board of Directors increased the Company's share repurchase program authorization from $140 billion to repurchase$175 billion of the Company’s common stock to $60 billion in April 2013, to $90 billion in April 2014 and to $140 billion in April 2015.stock. As of March 26,December 31, 2016 $117, $144 billion of the $140$175 billion had been utilized. The remaining $23$31 billion in the table represents the amount available to repurchase shares under the authorized repurchase program as of March 26, 2016.December 31, 2016. The Company’s share repurchase program does not obligate it to acquire any specific number of shares. Under the program, shares may be repurchased in privately negotiated and/or open market transactions, including under plans complying with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act.

(2)In August 2016, the Company entered into an accelerated share repurchase arrangement (“ASR”) to purchase up to $3.0 billion of the Company's common stock. In November 2016, the purchase period for this ASR ended and an additional 4.4 million shares were delivered and retired. In total, 26.9 million shares were delivered under this ASR at an average repurchase price of $111.73.
(3)In November 2016, the Company entered into a new ASR to purchase up to $6.0 billion of the Company’s common stock. In exchange for an up-front payment of $6.0 billion, the financial institution party to the arrangement committed to deliver shares to the Company during the ASR’s purchase period, which will end in February 2017. The total number of shares ultimately delivered, and therefore the average price paid per share, will be determined at the end of the applicable purchase period based on the volume weighted-average price of the Company’s common stock during that period.

Item 3.Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item 5.Other Information

None.
Item 5. Other Information

None.


Item 6.Exhibits

Index to Exhibits

      

Incorporated by

Reference

Exhibit

Number

  

Exhibit Description

  

Form

  

Exhibit

  

Filing Date/

Period End

Date

    4.1

  Officer’s Certificate of the Registrant, dated as of February 23, 2016, including forms of global notes representing the Floating Rate Notes due 2019, Floating Rate Notes due 2021, 1.30% Notes due 2018, 1.70% Notes due 2019, 2.25% Notes due 2021, 2.85% Notes due 2023, 3.25% Notes due 2026, 4.50% Notes due 2036 and 4.65% Notes due 2046.  8-K  4.1  2/23/16

    4.2

  Supplement No. 1 to the Officer’s Certificate of the Registrant, dated as of March 24, 2016.  8-K  4.1  3/24/16

  10.8*

  2014 Employee Stock Plan, as amended and restated as of February 26, 2016.  8-K  10.1  3/1/16

  10.16 *, **

  Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under 2014 Employee Stock Plan effective as of October 5, 2015.      

  10.17 *, **

  Form of Performance Award Agreement under 2014 Employee Stock Plan effective as of October 5, 2015.      

  31.1**

  Rule 13a-14(a) / 15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer.      

  31.2**

  Rule 13a-14(a) / 15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer.      

  32.1***

  Section 1350 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.      

101.INS**

  XBRL Instance Document.      

101.SCH**

  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.      

101.CAL**

  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.      

101.DEF**

  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.      

101.LAB**

  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.      

101.PRE**

  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.      

    Incorporated by Reference

Exhibit
Number
 
          

Exhibit Description
 Form Exhibit 
Filing Date/
Period End Date
3.2 Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant effective as of December 13, 2016. 8-K 3.2 12/13/16
10.18* Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under 2014 Employee Stock Plan effective as of October 14, 2016. 10-K 10.18 9/24/2016
10.19* Form of Performance Award Agreement under 2014 Employee Stock Plan effective as of October 14, 2016. 10-K 10.19 9/24/2016
31.1** Rule 13a-14(a) / 15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer.      
31.2** Rule 13a-14(a) / 15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer.      
32.1*** Section 1350 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.      
101.INS** XBRL Instance Document.      
101.SCH** XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.      
101.CAL** XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.      
101.DEF** XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.      
101.LAB** XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.      
101.PRE** XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.      
*

Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

**

Filed herewith.

***

Furnished herewith.



SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

April 27, 2016Apple Inc.
February 1, 2017Apple Inc.
 
 By:  /s/ Luca Maestri
 

Luca Maestri

Senior Vice President,

Chief Financial Officer

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