Apple’s share price has passed $300 for the first time, amid reports of yet more record Mac sales and the hugely successful iPad rollout.
Two research firms — IDC and Gartner —have reported that, based on their latest market surveys, Apple now has more than 10% of the US computer market and may soon overtake Acer to become the third biggest supplier in the world’s biggest market.
And with Apple’s results due next week, analysts are predicting a 54% increase in revenue, in large part because of the success of the iPad.
“The iPad has taken the market by surprise in terms of how strong the demand is,” said Mike Walkley, an analyst with Canaccord Genuity. “This new tablet product has created a lot of excitement in the tech community.”
And with rivakl tablets from potential competitors only just appearing, Apple has the market sown up until the end of the year, Walkley added.
Analysts also believe iPhone 4 is selling well, having recovered from the storm-in-a-teacup “antennagate”. Sterne Agee analyst Vijay Rakesh estimates that Apple has shipped between 12 million and 15 million iPhones during the current quarter — at least 50% more than it has sold in any previous three-month period.
The share price may get further boosts if rumours of imminent new Macs prove true and when Apple unveils Mac OS X 10.7 at an event next week.
