Apple's Earning Report Causes Holiday-Season Alarm During Thursday's report, Apple revealed that its revenue fell short of Wall Street expectations.

By Emily Rella

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Barcroft Media | Getty Images

Apple's latest earnings report is causing alarm as consumers worry that production and shipping hold-ups will impact the holiday season. During the Thursday report, Apple revealed that its revenue fell short of Wall Street expectations.

The company -- which manufactures popular iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, AirPods, MacBooks and more -- cited chip shortages and manufacturing disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic as it revealed $6 billion has been cut from its revenue over the last quarter.

Microsoft passed Apple in market cap on Friday, becoming the most valuable publicly-traded company in the world after Apple missed its earnings expectations.

Apple's quarterly sales were $83.4 billion and shares were down 3.5% in premarket trading. Apple's market cap Friday was $2.43 trillion. Microsoft's was almost $2.46 trillion.

Consumers are reminded that this year, with so many production issues and shipping problems, it is best to do holiday shopping early.

The ongoing shipping backlog is now expected to continue until the middle of next year. Congestion at the ports has led to $24 billion in goods floating on barges and as the goods sit on the water, costs are rising for average Americans, shipments are delayed and there are fewer purchasing options on store shelves.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Leadership

7 Telltale Signs of a Weak Leader

Whether a bully or a people pleaser who can't tell hard truths, poor leadership takes many forms.

Growing a Business

Entrepreneurs Should Invest in Service, Not Just Sales — Here's How to Build a Customer-First Business

A customer-first business strategy that prioritizes exceptional service, empowers employees and leverages feedback can transform satisfied customers into loyal advocates, driving sustainable, long-term growth.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Side Hustle

She Spent Her Honeymoon Working on a Side Hustle. It Raised $35 Million and Counts Celebrities Among Its Investors.

Blake Geffen, founder of luxury accessory rental company Vivrelle, "skipped the bellinis" in the Maldives — and got to work on her company instead.

Science & Technology

39% of Your Skills Will be Obsolete in 5 Years — Here Are 6 Skills You Will Need to Adapt and Thrive

AI agents are transforming business — adapt or be left behind.