Apple Releases Financial Results, Discusses Options Scandal

Today Apple released both its tardy 10Q (for 2Q 2006) and 10K (for fiscal year 2006) reports to the SEC. Much of the attention of the press release was placed on the continuing Stock Options back-dating investigation.

According to the release, Apple found a total of $84 million in charges related to the case, which dates back to 1997, including $4 million in 2006 and $7 million in 2005. However, to put the issue in perspective, Apple's profits for 2005 and 2006 were $1 billion-plus each year, so the corrections represent less than 1% of Apple's profitability in those years.

In addition, Apple's board expressed confidence in CEO Steve Jobs, who was recently in headlines regarding some of the backdated options he received but never profited from.

The special committee, its independent counsel and forensic accountants have performed an exhaustive investigation of Apples stock option granting practices, in a joint statement said Al Gore, chair of the special committee, and Jerome York, chair of Apples Audit and Finance Committee. The board of directors is confident that the Company has corrected the problems that led to the restatement, and it has complete confidence in Steve Jobs and the senior management team.

Apple's stock has been traded heavily over the past few days, with the stock dipping as much as 6% before recovering on December 27th (Wednesday). As of this writing, Apple's stock is up over 5%.