As rumors fly about a new iPhone, a smaller iPad, and new iPods, Apple saw its prepayment for inventory components increase by $1.15 billion in the June quarter.
Apple’s increasing expenses were revealed in the company’s 10-Q filing and highlighted on Monday by analyst Maynard Um with Wells Fargo Securities. Growing by $1.15 billion, prepayment for components reached 12.6 percent of Apple’s total sales, which he noted is the highest level seen by Apple in the last four years.
Um believes that the growth in expenses is a strong sign that Apple is insuring supplies of components ahead of multiple product launches. He said that historically, Apple’s increases in inventory component prepayments have been followed by what Um called “a solid ramp-up in revenue” in the proceeding two or three quarters.
The growth in spending comes as rumors abound that Apple is planning to launch a number of new products in the upcoming months. Rumored products include an updated iPhone, a smaller iPad, a new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, and updated iMac, a new iPod touch, and possibly a redesigned iPod nano.
A survey released by ChangeWave last week found that there is an “unprecedented level” of demand for Apple’s next iPhone. The poll found that 14 percent of consumers indicated they are “very likely” to buy Apple’s next iPhone, while another 17 percent said they are “somewhat likely.”
