Apple has announced financial results for its fiscal 2014 fourth quarter that ended Sept. 27. The company posted quarterly revenue of US$42.1 billion and quarterly net profit of $8.5 billion, or $1.42 per diluted share.

These results compare to revenue of $37.5 billion and net profit of $7.5 billion, or $1.18 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 38% compared to 37% in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 60 percent of the quarter’s revenue.

Apple’s board of directors has declared a cash dividend of $.47 per share of the company’s common stock. The dividend is payable on Nov. 13 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on Nov. 10.

"Our fiscal 2014 was one for the record books, including the biggest iPhone launch ever with iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus," said Apple CEO Tim Cook. "With amazing innovations in our new iPhones, iPads and Macs, as well as iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite, we are heading into the holidays with Apple’s strongest product lineup ever. We are also incredibly excited about Apple Watch and other great products and services in the pipeline for 2015."

"Our strong business performance drove EPS growth of 20 percent and a record $13.3 billion in cash flow from operations in the September quarter," added Luca Maestri, Apple’s chief financial officer. "We continued to execute aggressively against our capital return program, spending over $20 billion in the quarter and bringing cumulative returns to $94 billion."

Apple is providing the following guidance for its fiscal 2015 first quarter:
° Revenue between $63.5 billion and $66.5 billion;

° Gross margin between 37.5% and 38.5%;

° Operating expenses between $5.4 billion and $5.5 billion;

° Other income/(expense) of $325 million;

° A tax rate of 26.5%.