APPLE INC, 10-K filed on 10/28/2015
Annual Report
Document and Entity Information (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Oct. 9, 2015
Mar. 27, 2015
Document Type
10-K 
 
 
Amendment Flag
false 
 
 
Document Period End Date
Sep. 26, 2015 
 
 
Document Fiscal Year Focus
2015 
 
 
Document Fiscal Period Focus
FY 
 
 
Trading Symbol
AAPL 
 
 
Entity Registrant Name
APPLE INC 
 
 
Entity Central Index Key
0000320193 
 
 
Current Fiscal Year End Date
--09-26 
 
 
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer
Yes 
 
 
Entity Current Reporting Status
Yes 
 
 
Entity Voluntary Filers
No 
 
 
Entity Filer Category
Large Accelerated Filer 
 
 
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding
 
5,575,331 
 
Entity Public Float
 
 
$ 709,923 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Net sales
$ 233,715 
$ 182,795 
$ 170,910 
Cost of sales
140,089 
112,258 
106,606 
Gross margin
93,626 
70,537 
64,304 
Operating expenses:
 
 
 
Research and development
8,067 
6,041 
4,475 
Selling, general and administrative
14,329 
11,993 
10,830 
Total operating expenses
22,396 
18,034 
15,305 
Operating income
71,230 
52,503 
48,999 
Other income/(expense), net
1,285 
980 
1,156 
Income before provision for income taxes
72,515 
53,483 
50,155 
Provision for income taxes
19,121 
13,973 
13,118 
Net income
$ 53,394 
$ 39,510 
$ 37,037 
Earnings per share:
 
 
 
Basic
$ 9.28 
$ 6.49 
$ 5.72 
Diluted
$ 9.22 
$ 6.45 
$ 5.68 
Shares used in computing earnings per share:
 
 
 
Basic
5,753,421 
6,085,572 
6,477,320 
Diluted
5,793,069 
6,122,663 
6,521,634 
Cash dividends declared per share
$ 1.98 
$ 1.82 
$ 1.64 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Net income
$ 53,394 
$ 39,510 
$ 37,037 
Other comprehensive income/(loss):
 
 
 
Change in foreign currency translation, net of tax effects of $201, $50 and $35, respectively
(411)
(137)
(112)
Change in unrealized gains/losses on derivative instruments:
 
 
 
Change in fair value of derivatives, net of tax benefit/(expense) of $(441), $(297) and $(351), respectively
2,905 
1,390 
522 
Adjustment for net (gains)/losses realized and included in net income, net of tax expense/(benefit) of $630, $(36) and $255, respectively
(3,497)
149 
(458)
Total change in unrealized gains/losses on derivative instruments, net of tax
(592)
1,539 
64 
Change in unrealized gains/losses on marketable securities:
 
 
 
Change in fair value of marketable securities, net of tax benefit/(expense) of $264, $(153) and $458, respectively
(483)
285 
(791)
Adjustment for net (gains)/losses realized and included in net income, net of tax expense/(benefit) of $(32), $71 and $82, respectively
59 
(134)
(131)
Total change in unrealized gains/losses on marketable securities, net of tax
(424)
151 
(922)
Total other comprehensive income/(loss)
(1,427)
1,553 
(970)
Total comprehensive income
$ 51,967 
$ 41,063 
$ 36,067 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Parenthetical) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Change in foreign currency translation, tax effects
$ 201 
$ 50 
$ 35 
Change in fair value of derivatives, tax benefit/(expense)
(441)
(297)
(351)
Adjustment for net (gains)/losses realized and included in net income, tax expense/(benefit)
630 
(36)
255 
Change in fair value of marketable securities, tax benefit/(expense)
264 
(153)
458 
Adjustment for net (gains)/losses realized and included in net income, tax expense/(benefit)
$ (32)
$ 71 
$ 82 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Current assets:
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 21,120 
$ 13,844 
Short-term marketable securities
20,481 
11,233 
Accounts receivable, less allowances of $82 and $86, respectively
16,849 
17,460 
Inventories
2,349 
2,111 
Deferred tax assets
5,546 
4,318 
Vendor non-trade receivables
13,494 
9,759 
Other current assets
9,539 
9,806 
Total current assets
89,378 
68,531 
Long-term marketable securities
164,065 
130,162 
Property, plant and equipment, net
22,471 
20,624 
Goodwill
5,116 
4,616 
Acquired intangible assets, net
3,893 
4,142 
Other assets
5,556 
3,764 
Total assets
290,479 
231,839 
Current liabilities:
 
 
Accounts payable
35,490 
30,196 
Accrued expenses
25,181 
18,453 
Deferred revenue
8,940 
8,491 
Commercial paper
8,499 
6,308 
Current portion of long-term debt
2,500 
Total current liabilities
80,610 
63,448 
Deferred revenue, non-current
3,624 
3,031 
Long-term debt
53,463 
28,987 
Other non-current liabilities
33,427 
24,826 
Total liabilities
171,124 
120,292 
Commitments and contingencies
   
   
Shareholders' equity:
 
 
Common stock and additional paid-in capital, $0.00001 par value: 12,600,000 shares authorized; 5,578,753 and 5,866,161 shares issued and outstanding, respectively
27,416 
23,313 
Retained earnings
92,284 
87,152 
Accumulated other comprehensive income
(345)
1,082 
Total shareholders' equity
119,355 
111,547 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
$ 290,479 
$ 231,839 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Accounts receivable, allowances
$ 82 
$ 86 
Common stock, par value
$ 0.00001 
$ 0.00001 
Common stock, shares authorized
12,600,000,000 
12,600,000,000 
Common stock, shares issued
5,578,753,000 
5,866,161,000 
Common stock, shares outstanding
5,578,753,000 
5,866,161,000 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data in Thousands
Total
Common Stock and Additional Paid-In Capital
Retained Earnings
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)
Balances at Sep. 29, 2012
$ 118,210 
$ 16,422 
$ 101,289 
$ 499 
Balances (in shares) at Sep. 29, 2012
 
6,574,458 
 
 
Net income
37,037 
37,037 
Other comprehensive income/(loss)
(970)
(970)
Dividends and dividend equivalents declared
(10,676)
(10,676)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)
 
(328,837)
 
 
Repurchase of common stock
(22,950)
(22,950)
Share-based compensation
2,253 
2,253 
Common stock issued, net of shares withheld for employee taxes (in shares)
 
48,873 
 
 
Common stock issued, net of shares withheld for employee taxes
(587)
(143)
(444)
Tax benefit from equity awards, including transfer pricing adjustments
1,232 
1,232 
Balances at Sep. 28, 2013
123,549 
19,764 
104,256 
(471)
Balances (in shares) at Sep. 28, 2013
 
6,294,494 
 
 
Net income
39,510 
39,510 
Other comprehensive income/(loss)
1,553 
1,553 
Dividends and dividend equivalents declared
(11,215)
(11,215)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)
 
(488,677)
 
 
Repurchase of common stock
(45,000)
(45,000)
Share-based compensation
2,863 
2,863 
Common stock issued, net of shares withheld for employee taxes (in shares)
 
60,344 
 
 
Common stock issued, net of shares withheld for employee taxes
(448)
(49)
(399)
Tax benefit from equity awards, including transfer pricing adjustments
735 
735 
Balances at Sep. 27, 2014
111,547 
23,313 
87,152 
1,082 
Balances (in shares) at Sep. 27, 2014
5,866,161 
5,866,161 
 
 
Net income
53,394 
53,394 
Other comprehensive income/(loss)
(1,427)
(1,427)
Dividends and dividend equivalents declared
(11,627)
(11,627)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)
 
(325,032)
 
 
Repurchase of common stock
(36,026)
(36,026)
Share-based compensation
3,586 
3,586 
Common stock issued, net of shares withheld for employee taxes (in shares)
 
37,624 
 
 
Common stock issued, net of shares withheld for employee taxes
(840)
(231)
(609)
Tax benefit from equity awards, including transfer pricing adjustments
748 
748 
Balances at Sep. 26, 2015
$ 119,355 
$ 27,416 
$ 92,284 
$ (345)
Balances (in shares) at Sep. 26, 2015
5,578,753 
5,578,753 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the year
$ 13,844 
$ 14,259 
$ 10,746 
Operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
53,394 
39,510 
37,037 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash generated by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
11,257 
7,946 
6,757 
Share-based compensation expense
3,586 
2,863 
2,253 
Deferred income tax expense
1,382 
2,347 
1,141 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable, net
611 
(4,232)
(2,172)
Inventories
(238)
(76)
(973)
Vendor non-trade receivables
(3,735)
(2,220)
223 
Other current and non-current assets
(179)
167 
1,080 
Accounts payable
5,400 
5,938 
2,340 
Deferred revenue
1,042 
1,460 
1,459 
Other current and non-current liabilities
8,746 
6,010 
4,521 
Cash generated by operating activities
81,266 
59,713 
53,666 
Investing activities:
 
 
 
Purchases of marketable securities
(166,402)
(217,128)
(148,489)
Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities
14,538 
18,810 
20,317 
Proceeds from sales of marketable securities
107,447 
189,301 
104,130 
Payments made in connection with business acquisitions, net
(343)
(3,765)
(496)
Payments for acquisition of property, plant and equipment
(11,247)
(9,571)
(8,165)
Payments for acquisition of intangible assets
(241)
(242)
(911)
Other
(26)
16 
(160)
Cash used in investing activities
(56,274)
(22,579)
(33,774)
Financing activities:
 
 
 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
543 
730 
530 
Excess tax benefits from equity awards
749 
739 
701 
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards
(1,499)
(1,158)
(1,082)
Dividends and dividend equivalents paid
(11,561)
(11,126)
(10,564)
Repurchase of common stock
(35,253)
(45,000)
(22,860)
Proceeds from issuance of term debt, net
27,114 
11,960 
16,896 
Change in commercial paper, net
2,191 
6,306 
Cash used in financing activities
(17,716)
(37,549)
(16,379)
Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
7,276 
(415)
3,513 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the year
21,120 
13,844 
14,259 
Supplemental cash flow disclosure:
 
 
 
Cash paid for income taxes, net
13,252 
10,026 
9,128 
Cash paid for interest
$ 514 
$ 339 
$ 0 
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Apple Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively “Apple” or the “Company”) designs, manufactures and markets mobile communication and media devices, personal computers and portable digital music players, and sells a variety of related software, services, accessories, networking solutions and third-party digital content and applications. The Company sells its products worldwide through its retail stores, online stores and direct sales force, as well as through third-party cellular network carriers, wholesalers, retailers and value-added resellers. In addition, the Company sells a variety of third-party Apple-compatible products, including application software and various accessories through its online and retail stores. The Company sells to consumers, small and mid-sized businesses and education, enterprise and government customers.

Basis of Presentation and Preparation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. In the opinion of the Company’s management, the consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which are normal and recurring in nature, necessary for fair financial statement presentation. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in these consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

The Company’s fiscal year is the 52 or 53-week period that ends on the last Saturday of September. The Company’s fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013 ended on September 26, 2015, September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013, respectively. An additional week is included in the first fiscal quarter approximately every six years to realign fiscal quarters with calendar quarters. Fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013 each spanned 52 weeks. Unless otherwise stated, references to particular years, quarters, months and periods refer to the Company’s fiscal years ended in September and the associated quarters, months and periods of those fiscal years.

Revenue Recognition

Net sales consist primarily of revenue from the sale of hardware, software, digital content and applications, accessories, and service and support contracts. The Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collection is probable. Product is considered delivered to the customer once it has been shipped and title, risk of loss and rewards of ownership have been transferred. For most of the Company’s product sales, these criteria are met at the time the product is shipped. For online sales to individuals, for some sales to education customers in the U.S., and for certain other sales, the Company defers revenue until the customer receives the product because the Company retains a portion of the risk of loss on these sales during transit. For payment terms in excess of the Company’s standard payment terms, revenue is recognized as payments become due unless the Company has positive evidence that the sales price is fixed or determinable, such as a successful history of collection, without concession, on comparable arrangements. The Company recognizes revenue from the sale of hardware products, software bundled with hardware that is essential to the functionality of the hardware and third-party digital content sold on the iTunes Store in accordance with general revenue recognition accounting guidance. The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with industry specific software accounting guidance for the following types of sales transactions: (i) standalone sales of software products, (ii) sales of software upgrades and (iii) sales of software bundled with hardware not essential to the functionality of the hardware.

For the sale of most third-party products, the Company recognizes revenue based on the gross amount billed to customers because the Company establishes its own pricing for such products, retains related inventory risk for physical products, is the primary obligor to the customer and assumes the credit risk for amounts billed to its customers. For third-party applications sold through the App Store and Mac App Store and certain digital content sold through the iTunes Store, the Company does not determine the selling price of the products and is not the primary obligor to the customer. Therefore, the Company accounts for such sales on a net basis by recognizing in net sales only the commission it retains from each sale. The portion of the gross amount billed to customers that is remitted by the Company to third-party app developers and certain digital content owners is not reflected in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

The Company records deferred revenue when it receives payments in advance of the delivery of products or the performance of services. This includes amounts that have been deferred for unspecified and specified software upgrade rights and non-software services that are attached to hardware and software products. The Company sells gift cards redeemable at its retail and online stores, and also sells gift cards redeemable on iTunes Store, App Store, Mac App Store and iBooks Store for the purchase of digital content and software. The Company records deferred revenue upon the sale of the card, which is relieved upon redemption of the card by the customer. Revenue from AppleCare service and support contracts is deferred and recognized over the service coverage periods. AppleCare service and support contracts typically include extended phone support, repair services, web-based support resources and diagnostic tools offered under the Company’s standard limited warranty.

The Company records reductions to revenue for estimated commitments related to price protection and other customer incentive programs. For transactions involving price protection, the Company recognizes revenue net of the estimated amount to be refunded. For the Company’s other customer incentive programs, the estimated cost of these programs is recognized at the later of the date at which the Company has sold the product or the date at which the program is offered. The Company also records reductions to revenue for expected future product returns based on the Company’s historical experience. Revenue is recorded net of taxes collected from customers that are remitted to governmental authorities, with the collected taxes recorded as current liabilities until remitted to the relevant government authority.

Revenue Recognition for Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables

For multi-element arrangements that include hardware products containing software essential to the hardware product’s functionality, undelivered software elements that relate to the hardware product’s essential software, and undelivered non-software services, the Company allocates revenue to all deliverables based on their relative selling prices. In such circumstances, the Company uses a hierarchy to determine the selling price to be used for allocating revenue to deliverables: (i) vendor-specific objective evidence of fair value (“VSOE”), (ii) third-party evidence of selling price (“TPE”) and (iii) best estimate of selling price (“ESP”). VSOE generally exists only when the Company sells the deliverable separately and is the price actually charged by the Company for that deliverable. ESPs reflect the Company’s best estimates of what the selling prices of elements would be if they were sold regularly on a stand-alone basis. For multi-element arrangements accounted for in accordance with industry specific software accounting guidance, the Company allocates revenue to all deliverables based on the VSOE of each element, and if VSOE does not exist revenue is recognized when elements lacking VSOE are delivered.

For sales of qualifying versions of iPhone, iPad and iPod touch (“iOS devices”), Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV, the Company has indicated it may from time to time provide future unspecified software upgrades to the device’s essential software and/or non-software services free of charge. The Company has identified up to three deliverables regularly included in arrangements involving the sale of these devices. The first deliverable, which represents the substantial portion of the allocated sales price, is the hardware and software essential to the functionality of the hardware device delivered at the time of sale. The second deliverable is the embedded right included with qualifying devices to receive on a when-and-if-available basis, future unspecified software upgrades relating to the product’s essential software. The third deliverable is the non-software services to be provided to qualifying devices. The Company allocates revenue between these deliverables using the relative selling price method. Because the Company has neither VSOE nor TPE for these deliverables, the allocation of revenue is based on the Company’s ESPs. Revenue allocated to the delivered hardware and the related essential software is recognized at the time of sale provided the other conditions for revenue recognition have been met. Revenue allocated to the embedded unspecified software upgrade rights and the non-software services is deferred and recognized on a straight-line basis over the estimated period the software upgrades and non-software services are expected to be provided. Cost of sales related to delivered hardware and related essential software, including estimated warranty costs, are recognized at the time of sale. Costs incurred to provide non-software services are recognized as cost of sales as incurred, and engineering and sales and marketing costs are recognized as operating expenses as incurred.

The Company’s process for determining its ESP for deliverables without VSOE or TPE considers multiple factors that may vary depending upon the unique facts and circumstances related to each deliverable including, where applicable, prices charged by the Company and market trends in the pricing for similar offerings, product specific business objectives, length of time a particular version of a device has been available, estimated cost to provide the non-software services and the relative ESP of the upgrade rights and non-software services as compared to the total selling price of the product.

Beginning in September 2015, the Company reduced the combined ESPs for iOS devices and Mac between $5 and $10 to reflect the increase in competitive offers for similar products at little to no cost for users, which reduces the amount the Company could reasonably charge for these deliverables on a standalone basis.

Shipping Costs

Amounts billed to customers related to shipping and handling are classified as revenue, and the Company’s shipping and handling costs are classified as cost of sales.

 

Warranty Costs

The Company generally provides for the estimated cost of hardware and software warranties at the time the related revenue is recognized. The Company assesses the adequacy of its accrued warranty liabilities and adjusts the amounts as necessary based on actual experience and changes in future estimates.

Software Development Costs

Research and development (“R&D”) costs are expensed as incurred. Development costs of computer software to be sold, leased, or otherwise marketed are subject to capitalization beginning when a product’s technological feasibility has been established and ending when a product is available for general release to customers. In most instances, the Company’s products are released soon after technological feasibility has been established and as a result software development costs were expensed as incurred.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and included in selling, general and administrative expenses. Advertising expense was $1.8 billion, $1.2 billion and $1.1 billion for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Share-based Compensation

The Company recognizes expense related to share-based payment transactions in which it receives employee services in exchange for (a) equity instruments of the Company or (b) liabilities that are based on the fair value of the Company’s equity instruments or that may be settled by the issuance of such equity instruments. Share-based compensation cost for restricted stock and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) is measured based on the closing fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The Company recognizes share-based compensation cost over the award’s requisite service period on a straight-line basis for time-based RSUs and on a graded basis for RSUs that are contingent on the achievement of performance conditions. The Company recognizes a benefit from share-based compensation in the Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity if an excess tax benefit is realized. In addition, the Company recognizes the indirect effects of share-based compensation on R&D tax credits, foreign tax credits and domestic manufacturing deductions in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Further information regarding share-based compensation can be found in Note 9, “Benefit Plans.”

Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes is computed using the asset and liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and for operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the currently enacted tax rates that apply to taxable income in effect for the years in which those tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is believed more likely than not to be realized.

The Company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such positions are then measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon settlement. See Note 5, “Income Taxes” for additional information.

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period increased to include the number of additional shares of common stock that would have been outstanding if the potentially dilutive securities had been issued. Potentially dilutive securities include outstanding stock options, shares to be purchased under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan, unvested restricted stock and unvested RSUs. The dilutive effect of potentially dilutive securities is reflected in diluted earnings per share by application of the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, an increase in the fair market value of the Company’s common stock can result in a greater dilutive effect from potentially dilutive securities.

 

The following table shows the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for 2015, 2014 and 2013 (net income in millions and shares in thousands):

 

     2015      2014      2013  

Numerator:

        

Net income

   $ 53,394       $ 39,510       $ 37,037   

Denominator:

        

Weighted-average shares outstanding

     5,753,421         6,085,572         6,477,320   

Effect of dilutive securities

     39,648         37,091         44,314   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted-average diluted shares

     5,793,069         6,122,663         6,521,634   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

   $ 9.28       $ 6.49       $ 5.72   

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 9.22       $ 6.45       $ 5.68   

Potentially dilutive securities whose effect would have been antidilutive are excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share.

Financial Instruments

Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities

All highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase are classified as cash equivalents. The Company’s marketable debt and equity securities have been classified and accounted for as available-for-sale. Management determines the appropriate classification of its investments at the time of purchase and reevaluates the classifications at each balance sheet date. The Company classifies its marketable debt securities as either short-term or long-term based on each instrument’s underlying contractual maturity date. Marketable debt securities with maturities of 12 months or less are classified as short-term and marketable debt securities with maturities greater than 12 months are classified as long-term. Marketable equity securities, including mutual funds, are classified as either short-term or long-term based on the nature of each security and its availability for use in current operations. The Company’s marketable debt and equity securities are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) in shareholders’ equity, with the exception of unrealized losses believed to be other-than-temporary which are reported in earnings in the current period. The cost of securities sold is based upon the specific identification method.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company accounts for its derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities and carries them at fair value.

For derivative instruments that hedge the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows that are designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of AOCI in shareholders’ equity and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument, if any, is recognized in earnings in the current period. To receive hedge accounting treatment, cash flow hedges must be highly effective in offsetting changes to expected future cash flows on hedged transactions. For options designated as cash flow hedges, changes in the time value are excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness and are recognized in earnings.

For derivative instruments that hedge the exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset or a liability and that are designated as fair value hedges, both the net gain or loss on the derivative instrument as well as the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged item are recognized in earnings in the current period.

For derivative instruments and foreign currency debt that hedge the exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates used for translation of the net investment in a foreign operation and that are designated as a net investment hedge, the net gain or loss on the effective portion of the derivative instrument is reported in the same manner as a foreign currency translation adjustment. For forward exchange contracts designated as net investment hedges, the Company excludes changes in fair value relating to changes in the forward carry component from its definition of effectiveness. Accordingly, any gains or losses related to this forward carry component are recognized in earnings in the current period.

Derivatives that do not qualify as hedges are adjusted to fair value through earnings in the current period.

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company records its allowance for doubtful accounts based upon its assessment of various factors, including historical experience, age of the accounts receivable balances, credit quality of the Company’s customers, current economic conditions and other factors that may affect the customers’ ability to pay.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, computed using the first-in, first-out method and net realizable value. Any adjustments to reduce the cost of inventories to their net realizable value are recognized in earnings in the current period. As of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014, the Company’s inventories consist primarily of finished goods.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is computed by use of the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which for buildings is the lesser of 30 years or the remaining life of the underlying building; between one to five years for machinery and equipment, including product tooling and manufacturing process equipment; and the shorter of lease terms or ten years for leasehold improvements. The Company capitalizes eligible costs to acquire or develop internal-use software that are incurred subsequent to the preliminary project stage. Capitalized costs related to internal-use software are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from three to five years. Depreciation and amortization expense on property and equipment was $9.2 billion, $6.9 billion and $5.8 billion during 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Long-Lived Assets Including Goodwill and Other Acquired Intangible Assets

The Company reviews property, plant and equipment, inventory component prepayments and certain identifiable intangibles, excluding goodwill, for impairment. Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of these assets is measured by comparison of their carrying amounts to future undiscounted cash flows the assets are expected to generate. If property, plant and equipment, inventory component prepayments and certain identifiable intangibles are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized equals the amount by which the carrying value of the assets exceeds its fair value.

The Company does not amortize goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives, rather such assets are required to be tested for impairment at least annually or sooner whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the assets may be impaired. The Company performs its goodwill and intangible asset impairment tests in the fourth quarter of each year. The Company did not recognize any impairment charges related to goodwill or indefinite lived intangible assets during 2015, 2014 and 2013. The Company established reporting units based on its current reporting structure. For purposes of testing goodwill for impairment, goodwill has been allocated to these reporting units to the extent it relates to each reporting unit. In 2015 and 2014, the Company’s goodwill was primarily allocated to the Americas and Europe reporting units.

The Company amortizes its intangible assets with definite useful lives over their estimated useful lives and reviews these assets for impairment. The Company typically amortizes its acquired intangible assets with definite useful lives over periods from three to seven years.

Fair Value Measurements

The Company applies fair value accounting for all financial assets and liabilities and non-financial assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis. The Company defines fair value as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities, which are required to be recorded at fair value, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which the Company would transact and the market-based risk measurements or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, such as risks inherent in valuation techniques, transfer restrictions and credit risk. Fair value is estimated by applying the following hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value into three levels and bases the categorization within the hierarchy upon the lowest level of input that is available and significant to the fair value measurement:

Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 – Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3 – Inputs that are generally unobservable and typically reflect management’s estimate of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

 

The Company’s valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of money market funds and certain marketable equity securities were derived from quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. The valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of the Company’s debt instruments and all other financial instruments, all of which have counterparties with high credit ratings, were valued based on quoted market prices or model driven valuations using significant inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data.

In accordance with the fair value accounting requirements, companies may choose to measure eligible financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. The Company has not elected the fair value option for any eligible financial instruments.

Foreign Currency Translation and Remeasurement

The Company translates the assets and liabilities of its non-U.S. dollar functional currency subsidiaries into U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect at the end of each period. Revenue and expenses for these subsidiaries are translated using rates that approximate those in effect during the period. Gains and losses from these translations are recognized in foreign currency translation included in AOCI in shareholders’ equity. The Company’s subsidiaries that use the U.S. dollar as their functional currency remeasure monetary assets and liabilities at exchange rates in effect at the end of each period, and inventories, property and nonmonetary assets and liabilities at historical rates.

Financial Instruments
Financial Instruments

Note 2 – Financial Instruments

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities

The following tables show the Company’s cash and available-for-sale securities’ adjusted cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and fair value by significant investment category recorded as cash and cash equivalents or short- or long-term marketable securities as of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014 (in millions):

 

                                                                                                                                                         
    2015  
    Adjusted
Cost
    Unrealized
Gains
    Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
    Cash and
Cash
Equivalents
    Short-Term
Marketable
Securities
    Long-Term
Marketable
Securities
 

Cash

  $ 11,389      $ 0      $           0      $ 11,389      $   11,389      $ 0      $ 0   
             

Level 1:

             

Money market funds

    1,798        0        0        1,798        1,798        0        0   

Mutual funds

    1,772        0        (144     1,628        0        1,628        0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal

    3,570        0        (144     3,426        1,798        1,628        0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
             

Level 2:

             

U.S. Treasury securities

    34,902        181        (1     35,082        0        3,498        31,584   

U.S. agency securities

    5,864        14        0        5,878        841        767        4,270   

Non-U.S. government securities

    6,356        45        (167     6,234        43        135        6,056   

Certificates of deposit and time deposits

    4,347        0        0        4,347        2,065        1,405        877   

Commercial paper

    6,016        0        0        6,016        4,981        1,035        0   

Corporate securities

    116,908        242        (985     116,165        3        11,948        104,214   

Municipal securities

    947        5        0        952        0        48        904   

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

    16,121        87        (31     16,177        0        17        16,160   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal

    191,461        574        (1,184     190,851        7,933        18,853        164,065   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $   206,420      $       574      $ (1,328   $   205,666      $ 21,120      $ 20,481      $   164,065   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                         
    2014  
    Adjusted
Cost
    Unrealized
Gains
    Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
    Cash and
Cash
Equivalents
    Short-Term
Marketable
Securities
    Long-Term
Marketable
Securities
 

Cash

  $ 10,232      $ 0      $           0      $ 10,232      $     10,232      $ 0      $ 0   
             

Level 1:

             

Money market funds

    1,546        0        0        1,546        1,546        0        0   

Mutual funds

    2,531        1        (132     2,400        0        2,400        0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal

    4,077        1        (132     3,946        1,546        2,400        0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
             

Level 2:

             

U.S. Treasury securities

    23,140        15        (9     23,146        12        607        22,527   

U.S. agency securities

    7,373        3        (11     7,365        652        157        6,556   

Non-U.S. government securities

    6,925        69        (69     6,925        0        204        6,721   

Certificates of deposit and time deposits

    3,832        0        0        3,832        1,230        1,233        1,369   

Commercial paper

    475        0        0        475        166        309        0   

Corporate securities

    85,431        296        (241     85,486        6        6,298        79,182   

Municipal securities

    940        8        0        948        0        0        948   

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

    12,907        26        (49     12,884        0        25        12,859   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal

    141,023        417        (379     141,061        2,066        8,833        130,162   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $   155,332      $       418      $ (511   $   155,239      $ 13,844      $   11,233      $   130,162   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Company may sell certain of its marketable securities prior to their stated maturities for strategic reasons including, but not limited to, anticipation of credit deterioration and duration management. The maturities of the Company’s long-term marketable securities generally range from one to five years.

As of September 26, 2015, the Company considers the declines in market value of its marketable securities investment portfolio to be temporary in nature and does not consider any of its investments other-than-temporarily impaired. The Company typically invests in highly-rated securities, and its investment policy generally limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer. The policy generally requires investments to be investment grade, with the primary objective of minimizing the potential risk of principal loss. Fair values were determined for each individual security in the investment portfolio. When evaluating an investment for other-than-temporary impairment the Company reviews factors such as the length of time and extent to which fair value has been below its cost basis, the financial condition of the issuer and any changes thereto, changes in market interest rates and the Company’s intent to sell, or whether it is more likely than not it will be required to sell the investment before recovery of the investment’s cost basis.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company may use derivatives to partially offset its business exposure to foreign currency and interest rate risk on expected future cash flows, on net investments in certain foreign subsidiaries and on certain existing assets and liabilities. However, the Company may choose not to hedge certain exposures for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to, accounting considerations and the prohibitive economic cost of hedging particular exposures. There can be no assurance the hedges will offset more than a portion of the financial impact resulting from movements in foreign currency exchange or interest rates.

To help protect gross margins from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries whose functional currency is the U.S. dollar may hedge a portion of forecasted foreign currency revenue, and subsidiaries whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar and who sell in local currencies may hedge a portion of forecasted inventory purchases not denominated in the subsidiaries’ functional currencies. The Company may enter into forward contracts, option contracts or other instruments to manage this risk and may designate these instruments as cash flow hedges. The Company typically hedges portions of its forecasted foreign currency exposure associated with revenue and inventory purchases, typically for up to 12 months.

To help protect the net investment in a foreign operation from adverse changes in foreign currency exchange rates, the Company may enter into foreign currency forward and option contracts to offset the changes in the carrying amounts of these investments due to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. In addition, the Company may use non-derivative financial instruments, such as its foreign currency-denominated debt, as economic hedges of its net investments in certain foreign subsidiaries. In both of these cases, the Company designates these instruments as net investment hedges.

 

The Company may also enter into non-designated foreign currency contracts to partially offset the foreign currency exchange gains and losses generated by the re-measurement of certain assets and liabilities denominated in non-functional currencies.

The Company may enter into interest rate swaps, options, or other instruments to manage interest rate risk. These instruments may offset a portion of changes in income or expense, or changes in fair value of the Company’s term debt or investments. The Company designates these instruments as either cash flow or fair value hedges. The Company’s hedged interest rate transactions as of September 26, 2015 are expected to be recognized within 10 years.

Cash Flow Hedges

The effective portions of cash flow hedges are recorded in AOCI until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. Deferred gains and losses associated with cash flow hedges of foreign currency revenue are recognized as a component of net sales in the same period as the related revenue is recognized, and deferred gains and losses related to cash flow hedges of inventory purchases are recognized as a component of cost of sales in the same period as the related costs are recognized. Deferred gains and losses associated with cash flow hedges of interest income or expense are recognized in other income/(expense), net in the same period as the related income or expense is recognized. The ineffective portions and amounts excluded from the effectiveness testing of cash flow hedges are recognized in other income/(expense), net.

Derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges must be de-designated as hedges when it is probable the forecasted hedged transaction will not occur in the initially identified time period or within a subsequent two-month time period. Deferred gains and losses in AOCI associated with such derivative instruments are reclassified immediately into other income/(expense), net. Any subsequent changes in fair value of such derivative instruments are reflected in other income/(expense), net unless they are re-designated as hedges of other transactions.

Net Investment Hedges

The effective portions of net investment hedges are recorded in other comprehensive income (“OCI”) as a part of the cumulative translation adjustment. The ineffective portions and amounts excluded from the effectiveness testing of net investment hedges are recognized in other income/(expense), net.

Fair Value Hedges

Gains and losses related to changes in fair value hedges are recognized in earnings along with a corresponding loss or gain related to the change in value of the underlying hedged item.

Non-Designated Derivatives

Derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments are adjusted to fair value through earnings in the financial statement line item to which the derivative relates.

The Company records all derivatives in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value. The Company’s accounting treatment for these derivative instruments is based on its hedge designation. The following tables show the Company’s derivative instruments at gross fair value as of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014 (in millions):

 

     2015
     Fair Value of
Derivatives Designated
as Hedge Instruments
   Fair Value of
Derivatives Not Designated
as Hedge Instruments
   Total
Fair Value

Derivative assets (1):

              

Foreign exchange contracts

     $     1,442        $        109        $     1,551  

Interest rate contracts

     $ 394        $ 0        $ 394  

Derivative liabilities (2):

              

Foreign exchange contracts

     $ 905        $ 94        $ 999  

Interest rate contracts

     $ 13        $ 0        $ 13  

 

     2014
     Fair Value of
Derivatives Designated
as Hedge Instruments
   Fair Value of
Derivatives Not Designated
as Hedge Instruments
   Total
Fair Value

Derivative assets (1):

    

Foreign exchange contracts

     $     1,332        $        222        $     1,554  

Interest rate contracts

     $ 81        $ 0        $ 81  

Derivative liabilities (2):

    

Foreign exchange contracts

     $ 41        $ 40        $ 81  

 

  (1) 

The fair value of derivative assets is measured using Level 2 fair value inputs and is recorded as other current assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

 

  (2) 

The fair value of derivative liabilities is measured using Level 2 fair value inputs and is recorded as accrued expenses in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

The following table shows the pre-tax gains and losses of the Company’s derivative and non-derivative instruments designated as cash flow, net investment and fair value hedges on OCI and the Consolidated Statements of Operations for 2015, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):

 

                                                                    
     2015      2014      2013  

Gains/(Losses) recognized in OCI – effective portion:

        

Cash flow hedges:

        

Foreign exchange contracts

   $ 3,592       $ 1,750       $ 891   

Interest rate contracts

     (111      (15      12   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $     3,481       $     1,735       $ 903   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment hedges:

        

Foreign exchange contracts

   $ 167       $ 53       $ 143   

Foreign currency debt

     (71      0         0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 96       $ 53       $ 143   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gains/(Losses) reclassified from AOCI into net income – effective portion:

        

Cash flow hedges:

        

Foreign exchange contracts

   $ 4,092       $ (154    $ 676   

Interest rate contracts

     (17      (16      (6
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 4,075       $ (170    $        670   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gains/(Losses) on derivative instruments:

        

Fair value hedges:

        

Interest rate contracts

   $ 337       $ 39       $ 0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gains/(Losses) related to hedged items:

        

Fair value hedges:

        

Interest rate contracts

   $ (337    $ (39    $ 0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table shows the notional amounts of the Company’s outstanding derivative instruments and credit risk amounts associated with outstanding or unsettled derivative instruments as of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014 (in millions):

 

                                                                                           
     2015      2014  
       Notional  
Amount
     Credit Risk
Amount
       Notional  
Amount
     Credit Risk
Amount
 

Instruments designated as accounting hedges:

           

Foreign exchange contracts

   $ 70,054       $ 1,385       $ 42,945       $ 1,333   

Interest rate contracts

   $ 18,750       $ 394       $ 12,000       $ 89   
           

Instruments not designated as accounting hedges:

           

Foreign exchange contracts

   $ 49,190       $ 109       $ 38,510       $ 222   

 

The notional amounts for outstanding derivative instruments provide one measure of the transaction volume outstanding and do not represent the amount of the Company’s exposure to credit or market loss. The credit risk amounts represent the Company’s gross exposure to potential accounting loss on derivative instruments that are outstanding or unsettled if all counterparties failed to perform according to the terms of the contract, based on then-current currency or interest rates at each respective date. The Company’s exposure to credit loss and market risk will vary over time as currency and interest rates change. Although the table above reflects the notional and credit risk amounts of the Company’s derivative instruments, it does not reflect the gains or losses associated with the exposures and transactions that the instruments are intended to hedge. The amounts ultimately realized upon settlement of these financial instruments, together with the gains and losses on the underlying exposures, will depend on actual market conditions during the remaining life of the instruments.

The Company generally enters into master netting arrangements, which are designed to reduce credit risk by permitting net settlement of transactions with the same counterparty. To further limit credit risk, the Company generally enters into collateral security arrangements that provide for collateral to be received or posted when the net fair value of certain financial instruments fluctuates from contractually established thresholds. The Company presents its derivative assets and derivative liabilities at their gross fair values in its Consolidated Balance Sheets. The net cash collateral received by the Company related to derivative instruments under its collateral security arrangements was $1.0 billion as of September 26, 2015 and $2.1 billion as of September 27, 2014.

Under master netting arrangements with the respective counterparties to the Company’s derivative contracts, the Company is allowed to net settle transactions with a single net amount payable by one party to the other. As of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014, the potential effects of these rights of set-off associated with the Company’s derivative contracts, including the effects of collateral, would be a reduction to both derivative assets and derivative liabilities of $2.2 billion and $1.6 billion, respectively, resulting in net derivative liabilities of $78 million and $549 million, respectively.

Accounts Receivable

Trade Receivables

The Company has considerable trade receivables outstanding with its third-party cellular network carriers, wholesalers, retailers, value-added resellers, small and mid-sized businesses and education, enterprise and government customers. The Company generally does not require collateral from its customers; however, the Company will require collateral in certain instances to limit credit risk. In addition, when possible, the Company attempts to limit credit risk on trade receivables with credit insurance for certain customers or by requiring third-party financing, loans or leases to support credit exposure. These credit-financing arrangements are directly between the third-party financing company and the end customer. As such, the Company generally does not assume any recourse or credit risk sharing related to any of these arrangements.

As of September 26, 2015, the Company had one customer that represented 10% or more of total trade receivables, which accounted for 12%. As of September 27, 2014, the Company had two customers that represented 10% or more of total trade receivables, one of which accounted for 16% and the other 13%. The Company’s cellular network carriers accounted for 71% and 72% of trade receivables as of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014, respectively.

Vendor Non-Trade Receivables

The Company has non-trade receivables from certain of its manufacturing vendors resulting from the sale of components to these vendors who manufacture sub-assemblies or assemble final products for the Company. The Company purchases these components directly from suppliers. Vendor non-trade receivables from three of the Company’s vendors accounted for 38%, 18% and 14% of total vendor non-trade receivables as of September 26, 2015 and three of the Company’s vendors accounted for 51%, 16% and 14% of total vendor non-trade receivables as of September 27, 2014.

Consolidated Financial Statement Details
Consolidated Financial Statement Details

Note 3 – Consolidated Financial Statement Details

The following tables show the Company’s consolidated financial statement details as of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014 (in millions):

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net

 

     2015      2014  

Land and buildings

   $ 6,956       $ 4,863   

Machinery, equipment and internal-use software

       37,038           29,639   

Leasehold improvements

     5,263         4,513   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross property, plant and equipment

     49,257         39,015   

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (26,786      (18,391
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total property, plant and equipment, net

   $ 22,471       $ 20,624   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Other Non-Current Liabilities

 

                                                 
     2015      2014  

Deferred tax liabilities

   $   24,062       $   20,259   

Other non-current liabilities

     9,365         4,567   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other non-current liabilities

   $ 33,427       $ 24,826   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other Income/(Expense), Net

The following table shows the detail of other income/(expense), net for 2015, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):

 

                                                                          
     2015      2014      2013  

Interest and dividend income

   $     2,921       $     1,795       $     1,616   

Interest expense

     (733      (384      (136

Other expense, net

     (903      (431      (324
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other income/(expense), net

   $ 1,285       $ 980       $ 1,156   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Note 4 – Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

On July 31, 2014, the Company completed the acquisitions of Beats Music, LLC, which offers a subscription streaming music service, and Beats Electronics, LLC, which makes Beats® headphones, speakers and audio software (collectively, “Beats”). The total purchase price consideration for these acquisitions was $2.6 billion, which consisted primarily of cash, of which $2.2 billion was allocated to goodwill, $636 million to acquired intangible assets and $258 million to net liabilities assumed. Concurrent with the close of the acquisitions, the Company repaid $295 million of existing Beats outstanding debt to third-party creditors. In conjunction with the Beats acquisitions, the Company issued approximately 5.1 million shares of its common stock to certain former equity holders of Beats. The restricted stock was valued at approximately $485 million based on the Company’s common stock on the acquisition date. The majority of these shares, valued at approximately $417 million, will vest over time based on continued employment with Apple.

The Company also completed various other business acquisitions during 2014 for an aggregate cash consideration, net of cash acquired, of $957 million, of which $828 million was allocated to goodwill, $257 million to acquired intangible assets and $128 million to net liabilities assumed.

The Company’s acquired intangible assets with definite useful lives primarily consist of patents and licenses and are amortized over periods typically from three to seven years. The following table summarizes the components of gross and net intangible asset balances as of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014 (in millions):

 

                                                                                                                                                     
    2015     2014  
    Gross
    Carrying    
Amount
    Accumulated
Amortization
    Net Carrying
Amount
    Gross
    Carrying    
Amount
    Accumulated
Amortization
    Net Carrying
Amount
 

Definite-lived and amortizable acquired intangible assets

  $ 8,125      $ (4,332   $ 3,793      $ 7,127      $ (3,085   $ 4,042   

Indefinite-lived and non-amortizable acquired intangible assets

    100        0        100        100        0        100   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total acquired intangible assets

  $ 8,225      $ (4,332   $ 3,893      $ 7,227      $ (3,085   $ 4,142   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Amortization expense related to acquired intangible assets was $1.3 billion, $1.1 billion and $960 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. As of September 26, 2015, the remaining weighted-average amortization period for acquired intangible assets is 3.6 years. The expected annual amortization expense related to acquired intangible assets as of September 26, 2015, is as follows (in millions):

 

                        

2016

   $ 1,288   

2017

       1,033   

2018

     786   

2019

     342   

2020

     166   

Thereafter

     178   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 3,793   
  

 

 

 
Income Taxes
Income Taxes

Note 5 – Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes for 2015, 2014 and 2013, consisted of the following (in millions):

 

                                            
     2015      2014      2013  

Federal:

        

Current

   $   11,730       $ 8,624       $ 9,334   

Deferred

     3,408         3,183         1,878   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     15,138         11,807         11,212   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

State:

        

Current

     1,265         855         1,084   

Deferred

     (220      (178      (311
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     1,045         677         773   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Foreign:

        

Current

     4,744         2,147         1,559   

Deferred

     (1,806      (658      (426
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     2,938         1,489         1,133   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes

   $ 19,121       $   13,973       $   13,118   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The foreign provision for income taxes is based on foreign pre-tax earnings of $47.6 billion, $33.6 billion and $30.5 billion in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The Company’s consolidated financial statements provide for any related tax liability on undistributed earnings that the Company does not intend to be indefinitely reinvested outside the U.S. Substantially all of the Company’s undistributed international earnings intended to be indefinitely reinvested in operations outside the U.S. were generated by subsidiaries organized in Ireland, which has a statutory tax rate of 12.5%. As of September 26, 2015, U.S. income taxes have not been provided on a cumulative total of $91.5 billion of such earnings. The amount of unrecognized deferred tax liability related to these temporary differences is estimated to be $30.0 billion.

As of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014, $186.9 billion and $137.1 billion, respectively, of the Company’s cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were held by foreign subsidiaries and are generally based in U.S. dollar-denominated holdings. Amounts held by foreign subsidiaries are generally subject to U.S. income taxation on repatriation to the U.S.

A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes, with the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate (35% in 2015, 2014 and 2013) to income before provision for income taxes for 2015, 2014 and 2013, is as follows (dollars in millions):

 

                                            
     2015      2014      2013  

Computed expected tax

   $   25,380       $   18,719       $   17,554   

State taxes, net of federal effect

     680         469         508   

Indefinitely invested earnings of foreign subsidiaries

     (6,470      (4,744      (4,614

Domestic production activities deduction

     (426      (495      (308

Research and development credit, net

     (171      (88      (287

Other

     128         112         265   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes

   $ 19,121       $ 13,973       $ 13,118   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Effective tax rate

     26.4%         26.1%         26.2%   

The Company’s income taxes payable have been reduced by the tax benefits from employee stock plan awards. For stock options, the Company receives an income tax benefit calculated as the tax effect of the difference between the fair market value of the stock issued at the time of the exercise and the exercise price. For RSUs, the Company receives an income tax benefit upon the award’s vesting equal to the tax effect of the underlying stock’s fair market value. The Company had net excess tax benefits from equity awards of $748 million, $706 million and $643 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, which were reflected as increases to common stock.

 

As of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014, the significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities were (in millions):

 

     2015      2014  

Deferred tax assets:

     

Accrued liabilities and other reserves

   $     4,205       $     3,326   

Basis of capital assets and investments

     2,238         898   

Deferred revenue

     1,941         1,787   

Deferred cost sharing

     667         0   

Share-based compensation

     575         454   

Unrealized losses

     564         130   

Other

     721         227   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance of $0

     10,911         6,822   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

     

Unremitted earnings of foreign subsidiaries

     26,868         21,544   

Other

     303         398   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total deferred tax liabilities

     27,171         21,942   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net deferred tax liabilities

   $ (16,260    $ (15,120
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities reflect the effects of tax losses, credits and the future income tax effects of temporary differences between the consolidated financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and are measured using enacted tax rates that apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

Uncertain Tax Positions

Tax positions are evaluated in a two-step process. The Company first determines whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination. If a tax position meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold it is then measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements. The tax position is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company classifies gross interest and penalties and unrecognized tax benefits that are not expected to result in payment or receipt of cash within one year as non-current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

As of September 26, 2015, the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits was $6.9 billion, of which $2.5 billion, if recognized, would affect the Company’s effective tax rate. As of September 27, 2014, the total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits was $4.0 billion, of which $1.4 billion, if recognized, would affect the Company’s effective tax rate.

The aggregate changes in the balance of gross unrecognized tax benefits, which excludes interest and penalties, for 2015, 2014 and 2013, is as follows (in millions):

 

     2015      2014      2013  

Beginning Balance

   $     4,033       $     2,714       $     2,062   

Increases related to tax positions taken during a prior year

     2,056         1,295         745   

Decreases related to tax positions taken during a prior year

     (345      (280      (118

Increases related to tax positions taken during the current year

     1,278         882         626   

Decreases related to settlements with taxing authorities

     (109      (574      (592

Decreases related to expiration of statute of limitations

     (13      (4      (9
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ending Balance

   $ 6,900       $ 4,033       $ 2,714   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company includes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the provision for income taxes. As of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014, the total amount of gross interest and penalties accrued was $1.3 billion and $630 million, respectively, which is classified as non-current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. In connection with tax matters, the Company recognized interest and penalty expense in 2015, 2014 and 2013 of $709 million, $40 million and $189 million, respectively.

 

The Company is subject to taxation and files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and in many state and foreign jurisdictions. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) is currently examining the years 2010 through 2012, and all years prior to 2010 are closed. In addition, the Company is subject to audits by state, local and foreign tax authorities. In major states and major foreign jurisdictions, the years subsequent to 2003 generally remain open and could be subject to examination by the taxing authorities.

Management believes that an adequate provision has been made for any adjustments that may result from tax examinations. However, the outcome of tax audits cannot be predicted with certainty. If any issues addressed in the Company’s tax audits are resolved in a manner not consistent with management’s expectations, the Company could be required to adjust its provision for income taxes in the period such resolution occurs. Although timing of the resolution and/or closure of audits is not certain, the Company does not believe it is reasonably possible that its unrecognized tax benefits would materially change in the next 12 months.

On June 11, 2014, the European Commission issued an opening decision initiating a formal investigation against Ireland for alleged state aid to the Company. The opening decision concerns the allocation of profits for taxation purposes of the Irish branches of two subsidiaries of the Company. The Company believes the European Commission’s assertions are without merit. If the European Commission were to conclude against Ireland, the European Commission could require Ireland to recover from the Company past taxes covering a period of up to 10 years reflective of the disallowed state aid. While such amount could be material, as of September 26, 2015 the Company is unable to estimate the impact.

Debt
Debt

Note 6 – Debt

Commercial Paper

In 2014, the Board of Directors authorized the Company to issue unsecured short-term promissory notes (“Commercial Paper”) pursuant to a commercial paper program. The Company intends to use net proceeds from the commercial paper program for general corporate purposes, including dividends and share repurchases. As of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014, the Company had $8.5 billion and $6.3 billion of Commercial Paper outstanding, respectively, with a weighted-average interest rate of 0.14% and 0.12%, respectively, and maturities generally less than nine months.

The following table provides a summary of cash flows associated with the issuance and maturities of Commercial Paper for 2015 and 2014 (in millions):

 

     2015      2014  

Maturities less than 90 days:

     

Proceeds from (repayments of) commercial paper, net

   $     5,293       $     1,865   

Maturities greater than 90 days:

     

Proceeds from commercial paper

     3,851         4,771   

Repayments of commercial paper

     (6,953      (330
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Maturities greater than 90 days, net

     (3,102      4,441   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total change in commercial paper, net

   $ 2,191       $ 6,306   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Long-Term Debt

As of September 26, 2015, the Company had outstanding floating- and fixed-rate notes with varying maturities for an aggregate principal amount of $55.7 billion (collectively the “Notes”). The Notes are senior unsecured obligations, and interest is payable in arrears, quarterly for the U.S. dollar-denominated and Australian dollar-denominated floating-rate notes, semi-annually for the U.S. dollar-denominated, Australian dollar-denominated, British pound-denominated and Japanese yen-denominated fixed-rate notes and annually for the euro-denominated and Swiss franc-denominated fixed-rate notes.

 

The following table provides a summary of the Company’s term debt as of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014:

 

          2015     2014  
    Maturities     Amount
  (in millions)  
    Effective
Interest Rate
    Amount
  (in millions)  
    Effective
Interest Rate
 

2013 debt issuance of $17.0 billion:

         

Floating-rate notes

    2016 – 2018      $ 3,000        0.51% – 1.10%      $ 3,000        0.51% – 1.10%   

Fixed-rate 0.45% – 3.85% notes

    2016 – 2043        14,000        0.51% – 3.91%        14,000        0.51% – 3.91%   

2014 debt issuance of $12.0 billion:

         

Floating-rate notes

    2017 – 2019        2,000        0.37% – 0.60%        2,000        0.31% – 0.54%   

Fixed-rate 1.05% – 4.45% notes

    2017 – 2044        10,000        0.37% – 4.48%        10,000        0.30% – 4.48%   

First quarter 2015 euro-denominated debt issuance of 2.8 billion:

         

Fixed-rate 1.000% notes

    2022        1,558        2.94%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 1.625% notes

    2026        1,558        3.45%        0        0       

Second quarter 2015 debt issuance of $6.5 billion:

         

Floating-rate notes

    2020        500        0.56%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 1.55% notes

    2020        1,250        0.56%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 2.15% notes

    2022        1,250        0.87%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 2.50% notes

    2025        1,500        2.60%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 3.45% notes

    2045        2,000        3.58%        0        0       

Second quarter 2015 Swiss franc-denominated debt issuance of SFr1.25 billion:

         

Fixed-rate 0.375% notes

    2024        895        0.28%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 0.750% notes

    2030        384        0.74%        0        0       

Third quarter 2015 debt issuance of $8.0 billion:

         

Floating-rate notes

    2017        250        0.36%        0        0       

Floating-rate notes

    2020        500        0.61%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 0.900% notes

    2017        750        0.35%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 2.000% notes

    2020        1,250        0.61%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 2.700% notes

    2022        1,250        0.99%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 3.200% notes

    2025        2,000        1.22%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 4.375% notes

    2045        2,000        4.40%        0        0       

Third quarter 2015 Japanese yen-denominated debt issuance of ¥250.0 billion:

         

Fixed-rate 0.35% notes

    2020        2,081        0.35%        0        0       

Fourth quarter 2015 British pound-denominated debt issuance of £1.25 billion:

         

Fixed-rate 3.05% notes

    2029        1,148        3.79%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 3.60% notes

    2042        766        4.51%        0        0       

Fourth quarter 2015 Australian dollar-denominated debt issuance of A$2.25 billion:

         

Floating-rate notes

    2019        493        1.87%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 2.85% notes

    2019        282        1.89%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 3.70% notes

    2022        810        2.79%        0        0       

Fourth quarter 2015 euro-denominated debt issuance of 2.0 billion:

         

Fixed-rate 1.375% notes

    2024        1,113        3.30%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 2.000% notes

    2027        1,113        3.85%        0        0       
   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Total term debt

      55,701          29,000     

Unamortized discount

      (114       (52  

Hedge accounting fair value adjustments

      376          39     

Less: Current portion of long-term debt

      (2,500       0     
   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Total long-term debt

    $ 53,463        $ 28,987     
   

 

 

     

 

 

   

To manage foreign currency risk associated with the euro-denominated notes issued in the first quarter of 2015 and the British pound-denominated, Australian dollar-denominated and euro-denominated notes issued in the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company entered into currency swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $3.5 billion, $1.9 billion, $1.6 billion and $2.2 billion, respectively, which effectively converted these notes to U.S. dollar-denominated notes.

 

To manage interest rate risk on the U.S. dollar-denominated fixed-rate notes issued in the second quarter of 2015 and maturing in 2020 and 2022, the Company entered into interest rate swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $2.5 billion. To manage interest rate risk on the U.S. dollar-denominated fixed-rate notes issued in the third quarter of 2015 and maturing in 2017, 2020, 2022 and 2025, the Company entered into interest rate swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $4.3 billion. These interest rate swaps effectively converted the fixed interest rates on the U.S. dollar-denominated notes to a floating interest rate.

As of September 26, 2015, ¥250.0 billion of the Japanese yen-denominated notes was designated as a hedge of the foreign currency exposure of its net investment in a foreign operation. The foreign currency transaction gain or loss on the Japanese yen-denominated debt designated as a hedge is recorded in OCI as a part of the cumulative translation adjustment. As of September 26, 2015, the carrying value of the debt designated as a net investment hedge was $2.1 billion.

For further discussion regarding the Company’s use of derivative instruments see the Derivative Financial Instruments section of Note 2, “Financial Instruments.”

The effective interest rates for the Notes include the interest on the Notes, amortization of the discount and, if applicable, adjustments related to hedging. The Company recognized $722 million, $381 million and $136 million of interest expense on its term debt for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

The future principal payments for the Company’s Notes as of September 26, 2015 are as follows (in millions):

 

              

2016

   $ 2,500   

2017

     3,500   

2018

     6,000   

2019

     3,775   

2020

     5,581   

Thereafter

     34,345   
  

 

 

 

Total term debt

   $   55,701   
  

 

 

 

As of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014, the fair value of the Company’s Notes, based on Level 2 inputs, was $54.9 billion and $28.5 billion, respectively.

Shareholders' Equity
Shareholders' Equity

Note 7 – Shareholders’ Equity

Dividends

The Company declared and paid cash dividends per share during the periods presented as follows:

 

                             
     Dividends
Per Share
     Amount
(in millions)
 

2015:

     

Fourth quarter

   $ 0.52       $ 2,950   

Third quarter

     0.52         2,997   

Second quarter

     0.47         2,734   

First quarter

     0.47         2,750   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total cash dividends declared and paid

   $ 1.98       $   11,431   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

2014:

     

Fourth quarter

   $ 0.47       $ 2,807   

Third quarter

     0.47         2,830   

Second quarter

     0.44         2,655   

First quarter

     0.44         2,739   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total cash dividends declared and paid

   $ 1.82       $ 11,031   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Future dividends are subject to declaration by the Board of Directors.

 

Share Repurchase Program

In the third quarter of 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors increased the share repurchase authorization to $140 billion of the Company’s common stock, of which $104 billion had been utilized as of September 26, 2015. The Company’s share repurchase program does not obligate it to acquire any specific number of shares. Under the program, shares may be repurchased in privately negotiated and/or open market transactions, including under plans complying with Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

The Company has entered, and in the future may enter, into accelerated share repurchase arrangements (“ASRs”) with financial institutions. In exchange for up-front payments, the financial institutions deliver shares of the Company’s common stock during the purchase periods of each ASR. The total number of shares ultimately delivered, and therefore the average repurchase price paid per share, is determined at the end of the applicable purchase period of each ASR based on the volume weighted-average price of the Company’s common stock during that period. The shares received are retired in the periods they are delivered, and the up-front payments are accounted for as a reduction to shareholders’ equity in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets in the periods the payments are made. The Company reflects the ASRs as a repurchase of common stock in the period delivered for purposes of calculating earnings per share and as forward contracts indexed to its own common stock. The ASRs met all of the applicable criteria for equity classification, and therefore were not accounted for as derivative instruments.

The following table shows the Company’s ASR activity and related information during the years ended September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014:

 

     Purchase
Period End

Date
     Number of
Shares
(in thousands)
    Average
Repurchase
Price Per
Share
     ASR
Amount
  (in millions)  
 

May 2015 ASR

     July 2015         48,293  (1)    $ 124.24       $ 6,000   

August 2014 ASR

     February 2015         81,525  (2)    $ 110.40       $ 9,000   

January 2014 ASR

     December 2014         134,247      $ 89.39       $ 12,000   

April 2013 ASR

     March 2014         172,548      $ 69.55       $ 12,000   

 

  (1) 

Includes 38.3 million shares delivered and retired at the beginning of the purchase period, which began in the third quarter of 2015 and 10.0 million shares delivered and retired at the end of the purchase period, which concluded in the fourth quarter of 2015.

 

 

  (2) 

Includes 59.9 million shares delivered and retired at the beginning of the purchase period, which began in the fourth quarter of 2014, 8.3 million net shares delivered and retired in the first quarter of 2015 and 13.3 million shares delivered and retired at the end of the purchase period, which concluded in the second quarter of 2015.

 

Additionally, the Company repurchased shares of its common stock in the open market, which were retired upon repurchase, during the periods presented as follows:

 

     Number of Shares
(in thousands)
     Average Repurchase
Price Per Share
     Amount
   
(in millions)   
 
2015:         

Fourth quarter

     121,802       $ 115.15       $ 14,026   

Third quarter

     31,231       $ 128.08         4,000   

Second quarter

     56,400       $ 124.11         7,000   

First quarter

     45,704       $ 109.40         5,000   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total open market common stock repurchases

     255,137          $ 30,026   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 
        
2014:         

Fourth quarter

     81,255       $ 98.46       $ 8,000   

Third quarter

     58,661       $ 85.23         5,000   

Second quarter

     79,749       $ 75.24         6,000   

First quarter

     66,847       $ 74.79         5,000   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total open market common stock repurchases

     286,512          $ 24,000   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 
Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive Income

Note 8 – Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income consists of two components, net income and OCI. OCI refers to revenue, expenses, and gains and losses that under GAAP are recorded as an element of shareholders’ equity but are excluded from net income. The Company’s OCI consists of foreign currency translation adjustments from those subsidiaries not using the U.S. dollar as their functional currency, net deferred gains and losses on certain derivative instruments accounted for as cash flow hedges and unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities classified as available-for-sale.

The following table shows the pre-tax amounts reclassified from AOCI into the Consolidated Statements of Operations, and the associated financial statement line item, for 2015 and 2014 (in millions):

 

Comprehensive Income Components

  

Financial Statement Line Item

           2015                      2014          

Unrealized (gains)/losses on derivative instruments:

        

Foreign exchange contracts

  

Revenue

   $ (2,432    $ 449   
  

Cost of sales

     (2,168      (295
  

Other income/(expense), net            

     456         15   

Interest rate contracts

  

Other income/(expense), net

     17         16   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        (4,127          185   

Unrealized (gains)/losses on marketable securities

   Other income/(expense), net      91         (205
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total amounts reclassified from AOCI

      $ (4,036    $ (20
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table shows the changes in AOCI by component for 2015 (in millions):

 

     Cumulative
Foreign
Currency

  Translation   
     Unrealized
Gains/Losses
on Derivative
Instruments
     Unrealized
Gains/Losses
on Marketable
Securities
             Total          

Balance at September 28, 2013

   $ (105    $ (175    $ (191    $ (471
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications

     (187      1,687         438         1,938   

Amounts reclassified from AOCI

     0         185         (205      (20

Tax effect

     50         (333      (82      (365
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income/(loss)

     (137      1,539         151         1,553   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at September 27, 2014

     (242      1,364         (40      1,082   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications

     (612      3,346         (747      1,987   

Amounts reclassified from AOCI

     0         (4,127      91         (4,036

Tax effect

        201         189            232         622   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income/(loss)

     (411      (592      (424      (1,427
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at September 26, 2015

   $ (653    $ 772       $ (464    $ (345
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
Benefit Plans
Benefit Plans

Note 9 – Benefit Plans

2014 Employee Stock Plan

In the second quarter of 2014, shareholders approved the 2014 Employee Stock Plan (the “2014 Plan”) and terminated the Company’s authority to grant new awards under the 2003 Employee Stock Plan (the “2003 Plan”). The 2014 Plan provides for broad-based equity grants to employees, including executive officers, and permits the granting of RSUs, stock grants, performance-based awards, stock options and stock appreciation rights, as well as cash bonus awards. RSUs granted under the 2014 Plan generally vest over four years, based on continued employment, and are settled upon vesting in shares of the Company’s common stock on a one-for-one basis. Each share issued with respect to RSUs granted under the 2014 Plan reduces the number of shares available for grant under the plan by two shares. RSUs cancelled and shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations increase the number of shares available for grant under the 2014 Plan utilizing a factor of two times the number of RSUs cancelled or shares withheld. Currently, all RSUs granted under the 2014 Plan have dividend equivalent rights (“DERs”), which entitle holders of RSUs to the same dividend value per share as holders of common stock. DERs are subject to the same vesting and other terms and conditions as the corresponding unvested RSUs. DERs are accumulated and paid when the underlying shares vest. Upon approval of the 2014 Plan, the Company reserved 385 million shares plus the number of shares remaining that were reserved but not issued under the 2003 Plan. Shares subject to outstanding awards under the 2003 Plan that expire, are cancelled or otherwise terminate, or are withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations with respect to RSUs, will also be available for awards under the 2014 Plan. As of September 26, 2015, approximately 442.9 million shares were reserved for future issuance under the 2014 Plan.

2003 Employee Stock Plan

The 2003 Plan is a shareholder approved plan that provided for broad-based equity grants to employees, including executive officers. The 2003 Plan permitted the granting of incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, RSUs, stock appreciation rights, stock purchase rights and performance-based awards. Options granted under the 2003 Plan generally expire seven to ten years after the grant date and generally become exercisable over a period of four years, based on continued employment, with either annual, semi-annual or quarterly vesting. RSUs granted under the 2003 Plan generally vest over two to four years, based on continued employment and are settled upon vesting in shares of the Company’s common stock on a one-for-one basis. All RSUs, other than RSUs held by the Chief Executive Officer, granted under the 2003 Plan have DERs. DERs are subject to the same vesting and other terms and conditions as the corresponding unvested RSUs. DERs are accumulated and paid when the underlying shares vest. In the second quarter of 2014, the Company terminated the authority to grant new awards under the 2003 Plan.

1997 Director Stock Plan

The 1997 Director Stock Plan (the “Director Plan”) is a shareholder approved plan that (i) permits the Company to grant awards of RSUs or stock options to the Company’s non-employee directors, (ii) provides for automatic initial grants of RSUs upon a non-employee director joining the Board of Directors and automatic annual grants of RSUs at each annual meeting of shareholders, and (iii) permits the Board of Directors to prospectively change the relative mixture of stock options and RSUs for the initial and annual award grants and the methodology for determining the number of shares of the Company’s common stock subject to these grants without shareholder approval. Each share issued with respect to RSUs granted under the Director Plan reduces the number of shares available for grant under the plan by two shares. The Director Plan expires November 9, 2019. All RSUs granted under the Director Plan are entitled to DERs. DERs are subject to the same vesting and other terms and conditions as the corresponding unvested RSUs. DERs are accumulated and paid when the underlying shares vest. As of September 26, 2015, approximately 1.2 million shares were reserved for future issuance under the Director Plan.

Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans

During the fourth quarter of 2015, Section 16 officers Timothy D. Cook, Angela Ahrendts, Luca Maestri, Daniel Riccio, Philip Schiller and Jeffrey Williams had equity trading plans in place in accordance with Rule 10b5-1(c)(1) under the Exchange Act. An equity trading plan is a written document that pre-establishes the amounts, prices and dates (or formula for determining the amounts, prices and dates) of future purchases or sales of the Company’s stock, including shares acquired pursuant to the Company’s employee and director equity plans.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Purchase Plan”) is a shareholder approved plan under which substantially all employees may purchase the Company’s common stock through payroll deductions at a price equal to 85% of the lower of the fair market values of the stock as of the beginning or the end of six-month offering periods. An employee’s payroll deductions under the Purchase Plan are limited to 10% of the employee’s compensation and employees may not purchase more than $25,000 of stock during any calendar year. As of September 26, 2015, approximately 53.0 million shares were reserved for future issuance under the Purchase Plan.

 

401(k) Plan

The Company’s 401(k) Plan is a deferred salary arrangement under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Under the 401(k) Plan, participating U.S. employees may defer a portion of their pre-tax earnings, up to the IRS annual contribution limit ($18,000 for calendar year 2015). The Company matches 50% to 100% of each employee’s contributions, depending on length of service, up to a maximum 6% of the employee’s eligible earnings. The Company’s matching contributions to the 401(k) Plan were $200 million, $163 million and $135 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Restricted Stock Units

A summary of the Company’s RSU activity and related information for 2015, 2014 and 2013, is as follows:

 

     Number of
RSUs
     (in thousands)     
     Weighted-Average
Grant Date Fair
Value Per Share
     Aggregate
    Intrinsic Value    

(in millions)
 

Balance at September 29, 2012

     105,037       $ 49.27      

RSUs granted

     39,415       $ 78.23      

RSUs vested

     (42,291    $ 45.96      

RSUs cancelled

     (8,877    $ 57.31      
  

 

 

       

Balance at September 28, 2013

     93,284       $ 62.24      

RSUs granted

     59,269       $ 74.54      

RSUs vested

     (43,111    $ 57.29      

RSUs cancelled

     (5,620    $ 68.47      
  

 

 

       

Balance at September 27, 2014

     103,822       $ 70.98      

RSUs granted

     45,587       $ 105.51      

RSUs vested

     (41,684    $ 71.32      

RSUs cancelled

     (6,258    $ 80.34      
  

 

 

       

Balance at September 26, 2015

     101,467       $ 85.77       $ 11,639   
  

 

 

       

The fair value as of the respective vesting dates of RSUs was $4.8 billion, $3.4 billion and $3.1 billion for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The majority of RSUs that vested in 2015, 2014 and 2013 were net-share settled such that the Company withheld shares with value equivalent to the employees’ minimum statutory obligation for the applicable income and other employment taxes, and remitted the cash to the appropriate taxing authorities. The total shares withheld were approximately 14.1 million, 15.6 million and 15.5 million for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and were based on the value of the RSUs on their respective vesting dates as determined by the Company’s closing stock price. Total payments for the employees’ tax obligations to taxing authorities were $1.6 billion, $1.2 billion and $1.1 billion in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and are reflected as a financing activity within the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. These net-share settlements had the effect of share repurchases by the Company as they reduced the number of shares that would have otherwise been issued as a result of the vesting and did not represent an expense to the Company.

Stock Options

The Company had 1.2 million stock options outstanding as of September 26, 2015, with a weighted-average exercise price per share of $15.08 and weighted-average remaining contractual term of 4.1 years, substantially all of which are exercisable. The aggregate intrinsic value of the stock options outstanding as of September 26, 2015 was $120 million, which represents the value of the Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day of the period in excess of the weighted-average exercise price multiplied by the number of options outstanding. Total intrinsic value of options at time of exercise was $479 million, $1.5 billion and $1.0 billion for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

Share-based Compensation

The following table shows a summary of the share-based compensation expense included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for 2015, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):

 

     2015      2014      2013  

Cost of sales

   $ 575       $ 450       $ 350   

Research and development

      1,536          1,216             917   

Selling, general and administrative

     1,475         1,197         986   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total share-based compensation expense

   $   3,586       $   2,863       $   2,253   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The income tax benefit related to share-based compensation expense was $1.2 billion, $1.0 billion and $816 million for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. As of September 26, 2015, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding stock options, RSUs and restricted stock was $6.8 billion, which the Company expects to recognize over a weighted-average period of 2.7 years.

Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies

Note 10 – Commitments and Contingencies

Accrued Warranty and Indemnification

The following table shows changes in the Company’s accrued warranties and related costs for 2015, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):

 

     2015      2014      2013  

Beginning accrued warranty and related costs

   $ 4,159       $ 2,967       $ 1,638   

Cost of warranty claims

     (4,401      (3,760      (3,703

Accruals for product warranty

     5,022         4,952         5,032   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ending accrued warranty and related costs

   $   4,780       $   4,159       $   2,967   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company generally does not indemnify end-users of its operating system and application software against legal claims that the software infringes third-party intellectual property rights. Other agreements entered into by the Company sometimes include indemnification provisions under which the Company could be subject to costs and/or damages in the event of an infringement claim against the Company or an indemnified third-party. In the opinion of management, there was not at least a reasonable possibility the Company may have incurred a material loss with respect to indemnification of end-users of its operating system or application software for infringement of third-party intellectual property rights. The Company did not record a liability for infringement costs related to indemnification as of September 26, 2015 or September 27, 2014.

In September 2015, the Company introduced the iPhone Upgrade Program, which is available to customers who purchase an iPhone 6s and 6s Plus in one of its U.S. physical retail stores and activate the purchased iPhone with one of the four national carriers. The iPhone Upgrade Program provides customers the right to trade in that iPhone for a new iPhone, provided certain conditions are met. One of the conditions of this program requires the customer to finance the initial purchase price of the iPhone with a third-party lender. Upon exercise of the trade-in right and purchase of a new iPhone, the Company satisfies the customer’s outstanding balance due to the third-party lender on the original device. The Company accounts for the trade-in right as a guarantee liability and recognizes arrangement revenue net of the fair value of such right with subsequent changes to the guarantee liability recognized within revenue.

The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and executive officers. Under these agreements, the Company has agreed to indemnify such individuals to the fullest extent permitted by law against liabilities that arise by reason of their status as directors or officers and to advance expenses incurred by such individuals in connection with related legal proceedings. It is not possible to determine the maximum potential amount of payments the Company could be required to make under these agreements due to the limited history of prior indemnification claims and the unique facts and circumstances involved in each claim. However, the Company maintains directors and officers liability insurance coverage to reduce its exposure to such obligations.

Concentrations in the Available Sources of Supply of Materials and Product

Although most components essential to the Company’s business are generally available from multiple sources, a number of components are currently obtained from single or limited sources. In addition, the Company competes for various components with other participants in the markets for mobile communication and media devices and personal computers. Therefore, many components used by the Company, including those that are available from multiple sources, are at times subject to industry-wide shortage and significant pricing fluctuations that could materially adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and operating results.

 

The Company uses some custom components that are not commonly used by its competitors, and new products introduced by the Company often utilize custom components available from only one source. When a component or product uses new technologies, initial capacity constraints may exist until the suppliers’ yields have matured or manufacturing capacity has increased. If the Company’s supply of components for a new or existing product were delayed or constrained, or if an outsourcing partner delayed shipments of completed products to the Company, the Company’s financial condition and operating results could be materially adversely affected. The Company’s business and financial performance could also be materially adversely affected depending on the time required to obtain sufficient quantities from the original source, or to identify and obtain sufficient quantities from an alternative source. Continued availability of these components at acceptable prices, or at all, may be affected if those suppliers concentrated on the production of common components instead of components customized to meet the Company’s requirements.

The Company has entered into agreements for the supply of many components; however, there can be no guarantee that the Company will be able to extend or renew these agreements on similar terms, or at all. Therefore, the Company remains subject to significant risks of supply shortages and price increases that could materially adversely affect its financial condition and operating results.

Substantially all of the Company’s hardware products are manufactured by outsourcing partners that are located primarily in Asia. A significant concentration of this manufacturing is currently performed by a small number of outsourcing partners, often in single locations. Certain of these outsourcing partners are the sole-sourced suppliers of components and manufacturers for many of the Company’s products. Although the Company works closely with its outsourcing partners on manufacturing schedules, the Company’s operating results could be adversely affected if its outsourcing partners were unable to meet their production commitments. The Company’s purchase commitments typically cover its requirements for periods up to 150 days.

Other Off-Balance Sheet Commitments

Operating Leases

The Company leases various equipment and facilities, including retail space, under noncancelable operating lease arrangements. The Company does not currently utilize any other off-balance sheet financing arrangements. The major facility leases are typically for terms not exceeding 10 years and generally contain multi-year renewal options. As of September 26, 2015, the Company had a total of 463 retail stores. Leases for retail space are for terms ranging from five to 20 years, the majority of which are for 10 years, and often contain multi-year renewal options. As of September 26, 2015, the Company’s total future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases were $6.3 billion, of which $3.6 billion related to leases for retail space.

Rent expense under all operating leases, including both cancelable and noncancelable leases, was $794 million, $717 million and $645 million in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases having remaining terms in excess of one year as of September 26, 2015, are as follows (in millions):

 

2016

   $ 772   

2017

     774   

2018

     744   

2019

     715   

2020

     674   

Thereafter

     2,592   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $   6,271   
  

 

 

 

Other Commitments

The Company utilizes several outsourcing partners to manufacture sub-assemblies for the Company’s products and to perform final assembly and testing of finished products. These outsourcing partners acquire components and build product based on demand information supplied by the Company, which typically covers periods up to 150 days. The Company also obtains individual components for its products from a wide variety of individual suppliers. Consistent with industry practice, the Company acquires components through a combination of purchase orders, supplier contracts and open orders based on projected demand information. Where appropriate, the purchases are applied to inventory component prepayments that are outstanding with the respective supplier. As of September 26, 2015, the Company had outstanding off-balance sheet third-party manufacturing commitments and component purchase commitments of $29.5 billion.

 

In addition to the commitments mentioned above, the Company had other off-balance sheet obligations of $7.3 billion as of September 26, 2015 that consisted of commitments to acquire capital assets, including product tooling and manufacturing process equipment, and commitments related to inventory prepayments, advertising, licensing, R&D, internet and telecommunications services, energy and other obligations.

Contingencies

The Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims that have arisen in the ordinary course of business and that have not been fully adjudicated, certain of which are discussed in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K under the heading “Risk Factors” and in Part I, Item 3 of this Form 10-K under the heading “Legal Proceedings.” In the opinion of management, there was not at least a reasonable possibility the Company may have incurred a material loss, or a material loss in excess of a recorded accrual, with respect to loss contingencies for asserted legal and other claims. However, the outcome of litigation is inherently uncertain. Therefore, although management considers the likelihood of such an outcome to be remote, if one or more of these legal matters were resolved against the Company in a reporting period for amounts in excess of management’s expectations, the Company’s consolidated financial statements for that reporting period could be materially adversely affected.

Apple Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, et al.

On August 24, 2012, a jury returned a verdict awarding the Company $1.05 billion in its lawsuit against Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd and affiliated parties in the United States District Court, Northern District of California, San Jose Division. On March 6, 2014, the District Court entered final judgment in favor of the Company in the amount of approximately $930 million. On May 18, 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed in part, and reversed in part, the decision of the District Court. As a result, the Court of Appeals ordered entry of final judgment on damages in the amount of approximately $548 million, with the District Court to determine supplemental damages and interest, as well as damages owed for products subject to the reversal in part. Because the ruling remains subject to further proceedings, the Company has not recognized the award in its results of operations.

Segment Information and Geographic Data
Segment Information and Geographic Data

Note 11 – Segment Information and Geographic Data

The Company reports segment information based on the “management” approach. The management approach designates the internal reporting used by management for making decisions and assessing performance as the source of the Company’s reportable operating segments.

The Company manages its business primarily on a geographic basis. The Company’s reportable operating segments consist of the Americas, Europe, Greater China, Japan and Rest of Asia Pacific. The Americas segment includes both North and South America. The Europe segment includes European countries, as well as India, the Middle East and Africa. The Greater China segment includes China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The Rest of Asia Pacific segment includes Australia and those Asian countries not included in the Company’s other reportable operating segments. Although each reportable operating segment provides similar hardware and software products and similar services, they are managed separately to better align with the location of the Company’s customers and distribution partners and the unique market dynamics of each geographic region. The accounting policies of the various segments are the same as those described in Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.”

The Company evaluates the performance of its reportable operating segments based on net sales and operating income. Net sales for geographic segments are generally based on the location of customers and sales through the Company’s retail stores located in those geographic locations. Operating income for each segment includes net sales to third parties, related cost of sales and operating expenses directly attributable to the segment. Advertising expenses are generally included in the geographic segment in which the expenditures are incurred. Operating income for each segment excludes other income and expense and certain expenses managed outside the reportable operating segments. Costs excluded from segment operating income include various corporate expenses such as R&D, corporate marketing expenses, certain share-based compensation expenses, income taxes, various nonrecurring charges and other separately managed general and administrative costs. The Company does not include intercompany transfers between segments for management reporting purposes.

 

The following table shows information by reportable operating segment for 2015, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):

 

     2015      2014      2013  

Americas:

        

Net sales

   $   93,864       $   80,095       $   77,093   

Operating income

   $ 31,186       $ 26,158       $ 24,829   
        

Europe:

        

Net sales

   $ 50,337       $ 44,285       $ 40,980   

Operating income

   $ 16,527       $ 14,434       $ 12,767   

Greater China:

        

Net sales

   $ 58,715       $ 31,853       $ 27,016   

Operating income

   $ 23,002       $ 11,039       $ 8,499   
        

Japan:

        

Net sales

   $ 15,706       $ 15,314       $ 13,782   

Operating income

   $ 7,617       $ 6,904       $ 6,668   

Rest of Asia Pacific:

        

Net sales

   $ 15,093       $ 11,248       $ 12,039   

Operating income

   $ 5,518       $ 3,674       $ 3,762   

A reconciliation of the Company’s segment operating income to the Consolidated Statements of Operations for 2015, 2014 and 2013 is as follows (in millions):

 

                                                  
     2015      2014      2013  

Segment operating income

   $     83,850       $     62,209       $     56,525   

Research and development expense

     (8,067      (6,041      (4,475

Other corporate expenses, net

     (4,553      (3,665      (3,051
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating income

   $ 71,230       $ 52,503       $ 48,999   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The U.S. and China were the only countries that accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s net sales in 2015, 2014 and 2013. There was no single customer that accounted for more than 10% of net sales in 2015, 2014 or 2013. Net sales for 2015, 2014 and 2013 and long-lived assets as of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014 are as follows (in millions):

 

                                                  
     2015      2014      2013  

Net sales:

        

U.S.

   $ 81,732       $ 68,909       $ 66,197   

China (1)

     56,547         30,638         25,946   

Other countries

     95,436         83,248         78,767   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net sales

   $   233,715       $   182,795       $   170,910   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
        
     2015      2014         

Long-lived assets:

        

U.S.

   $ 12,022       $ 9,108      

China (1)

     8,722         9,477      

Other countries

     3,040         2,917      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total long-lived assets

   $ 23,784       $ 21,502      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

  (1)

China includes Hong Kong. Long-lived assets located in China consist primarily of product tooling and manufacturing process equipment and assets related to retail stores and related infrastructure.

 

 

Net sales by product for 2015, 2014 and 2013 are as follows (in millions):

 

                                                  
     2015      2014      2013  

Net Sales by Product:

        

iPhone (1)

   $ 155,041       $ 101,991       $ 91,279   

iPad (1)

     23,227         30,283         31,980   

Mac (1)

     25,471         24,079         21,483   

Services (2)

     19,909         18,063         16,051   

Other Products (1)(3)

     10,067         8,379         10,117   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net sales

   $   233,715       $   182,795       $   170,910   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (1) 

Includes deferrals and amortization of related software upgrade rights and non-software services.

 

 

  (2) 

Includes revenue from the iTunes Store, App Store, Mac App Store, iBooks Store, Apple Music, AppleCare, Apple Pay, licensing and other services.

 

 

  (3) 

Includes sales of Apple TV, Apple Watch, Beats products, iPod and Apple-branded and third-party accessories.

 
Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)
Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)

Note 12 – Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)

The following tables show a summary of the Company’s quarterly financial information for each of the four quarters of 2015 and 2014 (in millions, except per share amounts):

 

      Fourth Quarter         Third Quarter        Second Quarter         First Quarter     

2015:

           

Net sales

   $ 51,501       $ 49,605       $ 58,010       $ 74,599   

Gross margin

   $ 20,548       $ 19,681       $ 23,656       $ 29,741   

Net income

   $ 11,124       $ 10,677       $ 13,569       $ 18,024   

Earnings per share (1):

           

Basic

   $ 1.97       $ 1.86       $ 2.34       $ 3.08   

Diluted

   $ 1.96       $ 1.85       $ 2.33       $ 3.06   

 

      Fourth Quarter         Third Quarter        Second Quarter         First Quarter     

2014:

           

Net sales

   $ 42,123       $ 37,432       $ 45,646       $ 57,594   

Gross margin

   $ 16,009       $ 14,735       $ 17,947       $ 21,846   

Net income

   $ 8,467       $ 7,748       $ 10,223       $ 13,072   

Earnings per share (1):

           

Basic

   $ 1.43       $ 1.29       $ 1.67       $ 2.08   

Diluted

   $ 1.42       $ 1.28       $ 1.66       $ 2.07   

 

  (1) 

Basic and diluted earnings per share are computed independently for each of the quarters presented. Therefore, the sum of quarterly basic and diluted per share information may not equal annual basic and diluted earnings per share.

 
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

Basis of Presentation and Preparation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. In the opinion of the Company’s management, the consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, which are normal and recurring in nature, necessary for fair financial statement presentation. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in these consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

The Company’s fiscal year is the 52 or 53-week period that ends on the last Saturday of September. The Company’s fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013 ended on September 26, 2015, September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013, respectively. An additional week is included in the first fiscal quarter approximately every six years to realign fiscal quarters with calendar quarters. Fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013 each spanned 52 weeks. Unless otherwise stated, references to particular years, quarters, months and periods refer to the Company’s fiscal years ended in September and the associated quarters, months and periods of those fiscal years.

Revenue Recognition

Net sales consist primarily of revenue from the sale of hardware, software, digital content and applications, accessories, and service and support contracts. The Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collection is probable. Product is considered delivered to the customer once it has been shipped and title, risk of loss and rewards of ownership have been transferred. For most of the Company’s product sales, these criteria are met at the time the product is shipped. For online sales to individuals, for some sales to education customers in the U.S., and for certain other sales, the Company defers revenue until the customer receives the product because the Company retains a portion of the risk of loss on these sales during transit. For payment terms in excess of the Company’s standard payment terms, revenue is recognized as payments become due unless the Company has positive evidence that the sales price is fixed or determinable, such as a successful history of collection, without concession, on comparable arrangements. The Company recognizes revenue from the sale of hardware products, software bundled with hardware that is essential to the functionality of the hardware and third-party digital content sold on the iTunes Store in accordance with general revenue recognition accounting guidance. The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with industry specific software accounting guidance for the following types of sales transactions: (i) standalone sales of software products, (ii) sales of software upgrades and (iii) sales of software bundled with hardware not essential to the functionality of the hardware.

For the sale of most third-party products, the Company recognizes revenue based on the gross amount billed to customers because the Company establishes its own pricing for such products, retains related inventory risk for physical products, is the primary obligor to the customer and assumes the credit risk for amounts billed to its customers. For third-party applications sold through the App Store and Mac App Store and certain digital content sold through the iTunes Store, the Company does not determine the selling price of the products and is not the primary obligor to the customer. Therefore, the Company accounts for such sales on a net basis by recognizing in net sales only the commission it retains from each sale. The portion of the gross amount billed to customers that is remitted by the Company to third-party app developers and certain digital content owners is not reflected in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

The Company records deferred revenue when it receives payments in advance of the delivery of products or the performance of services. This includes amounts that have been deferred for unspecified and specified software upgrade rights and non-software services that are attached to hardware and software products. The Company sells gift cards redeemable at its retail and online stores, and also sells gift cards redeemable on iTunes Store, App Store, Mac App Store and iBooks Store for the purchase of digital content and software. The Company records deferred revenue upon the sale of the card, which is relieved upon redemption of the card by the customer. Revenue from AppleCare service and support contracts is deferred and recognized over the service coverage periods. AppleCare service and support contracts typically include extended phone support, repair services, web-based support resources and diagnostic tools offered under the Company’s standard limited warranty.

The Company records reductions to revenue for estimated commitments related to price protection and other customer incentive programs. For transactions involving price protection, the Company recognizes revenue net of the estimated amount to be refunded. For the Company’s other customer incentive programs, the estimated cost of these programs is recognized at the later of the date at which the Company has sold the product or the date at which the program is offered. The Company also records reductions to revenue for expected future product returns based on the Company’s historical experience. Revenue is recorded net of taxes collected from customers that are remitted to governmental authorities, with the collected taxes recorded as current liabilities until remitted to the relevant government authority.

Revenue Recognition for Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables

For multi-element arrangements that include hardware products containing software essential to the hardware product’s functionality, undelivered software elements that relate to the hardware product’s essential software, and undelivered non-software services, the Company allocates revenue to all deliverables based on their relative selling prices. In such circumstances, the Company uses a hierarchy to determine the selling price to be used for allocating revenue to deliverables: (i) vendor-specific objective evidence of fair value (“VSOE”), (ii) third-party evidence of selling price (“TPE”) and (iii) best estimate of selling price (“ESP”). VSOE generally exists only when the Company sells the deliverable separately and is the price actually charged by the Company for that deliverable. ESPs reflect the Company’s best estimates of what the selling prices of elements would be if they were sold regularly on a stand-alone basis. For multi-element arrangements accounted for in accordance with industry specific software accounting guidance, the Company allocates revenue to all deliverables based on the VSOE of each element, and if VSOE does not exist revenue is recognized when elements lacking VSOE are delivered.

For sales of qualifying versions of iPhone, iPad and iPod touch (“iOS devices”), Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV, the Company has indicated it may from time to time provide future unspecified software upgrades to the device’s essential software and/or non-software services free of charge. The Company has identified up to three deliverables regularly included in arrangements involving the sale of these devices. The first deliverable, which represents the substantial portion of the allocated sales price, is the hardware and software essential to the functionality of the hardware device delivered at the time of sale. The second deliverable is the embedded right included with qualifying devices to receive on a when-and-if-available basis, future unspecified software upgrades relating to the product’s essential software. The third deliverable is the non-software services to be provided to qualifying devices. The Company allocates revenue between these deliverables using the relative selling price method. Because the Company has neither VSOE nor TPE for these deliverables, the allocation of revenue is based on the Company’s ESPs. Revenue allocated to the delivered hardware and the related essential software is recognized at the time of sale provided the other conditions for revenue recognition have been met. Revenue allocated to the embedded unspecified software upgrade rights and the non-software services is deferred and recognized on a straight-line basis over the estimated period the software upgrades and non-software services are expected to be provided. Cost of sales related to delivered hardware and related essential software, including estimated warranty costs, are recognized at the time of sale. Costs incurred to provide non-software services are recognized as cost of sales as incurred, and engineering and sales and marketing costs are recognized as operating expenses as incurred.

The Company’s process for determining its ESP for deliverables without VSOE or TPE considers multiple factors that may vary depending upon the unique facts and circumstances related to each deliverable including, where applicable, prices charged by the Company and market trends in the pricing for similar offerings, product specific business objectives, length of time a particular version of a device has been available, estimated cost to provide the non-software services and the relative ESP of the upgrade rights and non-software services as compared to the total selling price of the product.

Beginning in September 2015, the Company reduced the combined ESPs for iOS devices and Mac between $5 and $10 to reflect the increase in competitive offers for similar products at little to no cost for users, which reduces the amount the Company could reasonably charge for these deliverables on a standalone basis.

Shipping Costs

Amounts billed to customers related to shipping and handling are classified as revenue, and the Company’s shipping and handling costs are classified as cost of sales.

Warranty Costs

The Company generally provides for the estimated cost of hardware and software warranties at the time the related revenue is recognized. The Company assesses the adequacy of its accrued warranty liabilities and adjusts the amounts as necessary based on actual experience and changes in future estimates.

Software Development Costs

Research and development (“R&D”) costs are expensed as incurred. Development costs of computer software to be sold, leased, or otherwise marketed are subject to capitalization beginning when a product’s technological feasibility has been established and ending when a product is available for general release to customers. In most instances, the Company’s products are released soon after technological feasibility has been established and as a result software development costs were expensed as incurred.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and included in selling, general and administrative expenses. Advertising expense was $1.8 billion, $1.2 billion and $1.1 billion for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Share-based Compensation

The Company recognizes expense related to share-based payment transactions in which it receives employee services in exchange for (a) equity instruments of the Company or (b) liabilities that are based on the fair value of the Company’s equity instruments or that may be settled by the issuance of such equity instruments. Share-based compensation cost for restricted stock and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) is measured based on the closing fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The Company recognizes share-based compensation cost over the award’s requisite service period on a straight-line basis for time-based RSUs and on a graded basis for RSUs that are contingent on the achievement of performance conditions. The Company recognizes a benefit from share-based compensation in the Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity if an excess tax benefit is realized. In addition, the Company recognizes the indirect effects of share-based compensation on R&D tax credits, foreign tax credits and domestic manufacturing deductions in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Further information regarding share-based compensation can be found in Note 9, “Benefit Plans.”

Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes is computed using the asset and liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and for operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the currently enacted tax rates that apply to taxable income in effect for the years in which those tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is believed more likely than not to be realized.

The Company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such positions are then measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon settlement. See Note 5, “Income Taxes” for additional information.

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period increased to include the number of additional shares of common stock that would have been outstanding if the potentially dilutive securities had been issued. Potentially dilutive securities include outstanding stock options, shares to be purchased under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan, unvested restricted stock and unvested RSUs. The dilutive effect of potentially dilutive securities is reflected in diluted earnings per share by application of the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, an increase in the fair market value of the Company’s common stock can result in a greater dilutive effect from potentially dilutive securities.

 

The following table shows the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for 2015, 2014 and 2013 (net income in millions and shares in thousands):

 

     2015      2014      2013  

Numerator:

        

Net income

   $ 53,394       $ 39,510       $ 37,037   

Denominator:

        

Weighted-average shares outstanding

     5,753,421         6,085,572         6,477,320   

Effect of dilutive securities

     39,648         37,091         44,314   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted-average diluted shares

     5,793,069         6,122,663         6,521,634   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

   $ 9.28       $ 6.49       $ 5.72   

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 9.22       $ 6.45       $ 5.68   

Potentially dilutive securities whose effect would have been antidilutive are excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share.

Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities

All highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase are classified as cash equivalents. The Company’s marketable debt and equity securities have been classified and accounted for as available-for-sale. Management determines the appropriate classification of its investments at the time of purchase and reevaluates the classifications at each balance sheet date. The Company classifies its marketable debt securities as either short-term or long-term based on each instrument’s underlying contractual maturity date. Marketable debt securities with maturities of 12 months or less are classified as short-term and marketable debt securities with maturities greater than 12 months are classified as long-term. Marketable equity securities, including mutual funds, are classified as either short-term or long-term based on the nature of each security and its availability for use in current operations. The Company’s marketable debt and equity securities are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) in shareholders’ equity, with the exception of unrealized losses believed to be other-than-temporary which are reported in earnings in the current period. The cost of securities sold is based upon the specific identification method.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company accounts for its derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities and carries them at fair value.

For derivative instruments that hedge the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows that are designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of AOCI in shareholders’ equity and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument, if any, is recognized in earnings in the current period. To receive hedge accounting treatment, cash flow hedges must be highly effective in offsetting changes to expected future cash flows on hedged transactions. For options designated as cash flow hedges, changes in the time value are excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness and are recognized in earnings.

For derivative instruments that hedge the exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset or a liability and that are designated as fair value hedges, both the net gain or loss on the derivative instrument as well as the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged item are recognized in earnings in the current period.

For derivative instruments and foreign currency debt that hedge the exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates used for translation of the net investment in a foreign operation and that are designated as a net investment hedge, the net gain or loss on the effective portion of the derivative instrument is reported in the same manner as a foreign currency translation adjustment. For forward exchange contracts designated as net investment hedges, the Company excludes changes in fair value relating to changes in the forward carry component from its definition of effectiveness. Accordingly, any gains or losses related to this forward carry component are recognized in earnings in the current period.

Derivatives that do not qualify as hedges are adjusted to fair value through earnings in the current period.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company records its allowance for doubtful accounts based upon its assessment of various factors, including historical experience, age of the accounts receivable balances, credit quality of the Company’s customers, current economic conditions and other factors that may affect the customers’ ability to pay.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, computed using the first-in, first-out method and net realizable value. Any adjustments to reduce the cost of inventories to their net realizable value are recognized in earnings in the current period. As of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014, the Company’s inventories consist primarily of finished goods.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is computed by use of the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which for buildings is the lesser of 30 years or the remaining life of the underlying building; between one to five years for machinery and equipment, including product tooling and manufacturing process equipment; and the shorter of lease terms or ten years for leasehold improvements. The Company capitalizes eligible costs to acquire or develop internal-use software that are incurred subsequent to the preliminary project stage. Capitalized costs related to internal-use software are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from three to five years. Depreciation and amortization expense on property and equipment was $9.2 billion, $6.9 billion and $5.8 billion during 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Long-Lived Assets Including Goodwill and Other Acquired Intangible Assets

The Company reviews property, plant and equipment, inventory component prepayments and certain identifiable intangibles, excluding goodwill, for impairment. Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of these assets is measured by comparison of their carrying amounts to future undiscounted cash flows the assets are expected to generate. If property, plant and equipment, inventory component prepayments and certain identifiable intangibles are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized equals the amount by which the carrying value of the assets exceeds its fair value.

The Company does not amortize goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives, rather such assets are required to be tested for impairment at least annually or sooner whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the assets may be impaired. The Company performs its goodwill and intangible asset impairment tests in the fourth quarter of each year. The Company did not recognize any impairment charges related to goodwill or indefinite lived intangible assets during 2015, 2014 and 2013. The Company established reporting units based on its current reporting structure. For purposes of testing goodwill for impairment, goodwill has been allocated to these reporting units to the extent it relates to each reporting unit. In 2015 and 2014, the Company’s goodwill was primarily allocated to the Americas and Europe reporting units.

The Company amortizes its intangible assets with definite useful lives over their estimated useful lives and reviews these assets for impairment. The Company typically amortizes its acquired intangible assets with definite useful lives over periods from three to seven years.

Fair Value Measurements

The Company applies fair value accounting for all financial assets and liabilities and non-financial assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis. The Company defines fair value as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities, which are required to be recorded at fair value, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which the Company would transact and the market-based risk measurements or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, such as risks inherent in valuation techniques, transfer restrictions and credit risk. Fair value is estimated by applying the following hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value into three levels and bases the categorization within the hierarchy upon the lowest level of input that is available and significant to the fair value measurement:

Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 – Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3 – Inputs that are generally unobservable and typically reflect management’s estimate of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

 

The Company’s valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of money market funds and certain marketable equity securities were derived from quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. The valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of the Company’s debt instruments and all other financial instruments, all of which have counterparties with high credit ratings, were valued based on quoted market prices or model driven valuations using significant inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data.

In accordance with the fair value accounting requirements, companies may choose to measure eligible financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. The Company has not elected the fair value option for any eligible financial instruments.

Foreign Currency Translation and Remeasurement

The Company translates the assets and liabilities of its non-U.S. dollar functional currency subsidiaries into U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect at the end of each period. Revenue and expenses for these subsidiaries are translated using rates that approximate those in effect during the period. Gains and losses from these translations are recognized in foreign currency translation included in AOCI in shareholders’ equity. The Company’s subsidiaries that use the U.S. dollar as their functional currency remeasure monetary assets and liabilities at exchange rates in effect at the end of each period, and inventories, property and nonmonetary assets and liabilities at historical rates.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)
Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share

The following table shows the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for 2015, 2014 and 2013 (net income in millions and shares in thousands):

 

     2015      2014      2013  

Numerator:

        

Net income

   $ 53,394       $ 39,510       $ 37,037   

Denominator:

        

Weighted-average shares outstanding

     5,753,421         6,085,572         6,477,320   

Effect of dilutive securities

     39,648         37,091         44,314   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted-average diluted shares

     5,793,069         6,122,663         6,521,634   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

   $ 9.28       $ 6.49       $ 5.72   

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 9.22       $ 6.45       $ 5.68   
Financial Instruments (Tables)

The following tables show the Company’s cash and available-for-sale securities’ adjusted cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and fair value by significant investment category recorded as cash and cash equivalents or short- or long-term marketable securities as of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014 (in millions):

 

                                                                                                                                                         
    2015  
    Adjusted
Cost
    Unrealized
Gains
    Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
    Cash and
Cash
Equivalents
    Short-Term
Marketable
Securities
    Long-Term
Marketable
Securities
 

Cash

  $ 11,389      $ 0      $           0      $ 11,389      $   11,389      $ 0      $ 0   
             

Level 1:

             

Money market funds

    1,798        0        0        1,798        1,798        0        0   

Mutual funds

    1,772        0        (144     1,628        0        1,628        0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal

    3,570        0        (144     3,426        1,798        1,628        0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
             

Level 2:

             

U.S. Treasury securities

    34,902        181        (1     35,082        0        3,498        31,584   

U.S. agency securities

    5,864        14        0        5,878        841        767        4,270   

Non-U.S. government securities

    6,356        45        (167     6,234        43        135        6,056   

Certificates of deposit and time deposits

    4,347        0        0        4,347        2,065        1,405        877   

Commercial paper

    6,016        0        0        6,016        4,981        1,035        0   

Corporate securities

    116,908        242        (985     116,165        3        11,948        104,214   

Municipal securities

    947        5        0        952        0        48        904   

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

    16,121        87        (31     16,177        0        17        16,160   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal

    191,461        574        (1,184     190,851        7,933        18,853        164,065   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $   206,420      $       574      $ (1,328   $   205,666      $ 21,120      $ 20,481      $   164,065   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                         
    2014  
    Adjusted
Cost
    Unrealized
Gains
    Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
    Cash and
Cash
Equivalents
    Short-Term
Marketable
Securities
    Long-Term
Marketable
Securities
 

Cash

  $ 10,232      $ 0      $           0      $ 10,232      $     10,232      $ 0      $ 0   
             

Level 1:

             

Money market funds

    1,546        0        0        1,546        1,546        0        0   

Mutual funds

    2,531        1        (132     2,400        0        2,400        0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal

    4,077        1        (132     3,946        1,546        2,400        0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
             

Level 2:

             

U.S. Treasury securities

    23,140        15        (9     23,146        12        607        22,527   

U.S. agency securities

    7,373        3        (11     7,365        652        157        6,556   

Non-U.S. government securities

    6,925        69        (69     6,925        0        204        6,721   

Certificates of deposit and time deposits

    3,832        0        0        3,832        1,230        1,233        1,369   

Commercial paper

    475        0        0        475        166        309        0   

Corporate securities

    85,431        296        (241     85,486        6        6,298        79,182   

Municipal securities

    940        8        0        948        0        0        948   

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

    12,907        26        (49     12,884        0        25        12,859   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal

    141,023        417        (379     141,061        2,066        8,833        130,162   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $   155,332      $       418      $ (511   $   155,239      $ 13,844      $   11,233      $   130,162   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following tables show the Company’s cash and available-for-sale securities’ adjusted cost, gross unrealized gains, gross unrealized losses and fair value by significant investment category recorded as cash and cash equivalents or short- or long-term marketable securities as of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014 (in millions):

 

                                                                                                                                                         
    2015  
    Adjusted
Cost
    Unrealized
Gains
    Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
    Cash and
Cash
Equivalents
    Short-Term
Marketable
Securities
    Long-Term
Marketable
Securities
 

Cash

  $ 11,389      $ 0      $           0      $ 11,389      $   11,389      $ 0      $ 0   
             

Level 1:

             

Money market funds

    1,798        0        0        1,798        1,798        0        0   

Mutual funds

    1,772        0        (144     1,628        0        1,628        0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal

    3,570        0        (144     3,426        1,798        1,628        0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
             

Level 2:

             

U.S. Treasury securities

    34,902        181        (1     35,082        0        3,498        31,584   

U.S. agency securities

    5,864        14        0        5,878        841        767        4,270   

Non-U.S. government securities

    6,356        45        (167     6,234        43        135        6,056   

Certificates of deposit and time deposits

    4,347        0        0        4,347        2,065        1,405        877   

Commercial paper

    6,016        0        0        6,016        4,981        1,035        0   

Corporate securities

    116,908        242        (985     116,165        3        11,948        104,214   

Municipal securities

    947        5        0        952        0        48        904   

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

    16,121        87        (31     16,177        0        17        16,160   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal

    191,461        574        (1,184     190,851        7,933        18,853        164,065   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $   206,420      $       574      $ (1,328   $   205,666      $ 21,120      $ 20,481      $   164,065   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                         
    2014  
    Adjusted
Cost
    Unrealized
Gains
    Unrealized
Losses
    Fair
Value
    Cash and
Cash
Equivalents
    Short-Term
Marketable
Securities
    Long-Term
Marketable
Securities
 

Cash

  $ 10,232      $ 0      $           0      $ 10,232      $     10,232      $ 0      $ 0   
             

Level 1:

             

Money market funds

    1,546        0        0        1,546        1,546        0        0   

Mutual funds

    2,531        1        (132     2,400        0        2,400        0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal

    4,077        1        (132     3,946        1,546        2,400        0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
             

Level 2:

             

U.S. Treasury securities

    23,140        15        (9     23,146        12        607        22,527   

U.S. agency securities

    7,373        3        (11     7,365        652        157        6,556   

Non-U.S. government securities

    6,925        69        (69     6,925        0        204        6,721   

Certificates of deposit and time deposits

    3,832        0        0        3,832        1,230        1,233        1,369   

Commercial paper

    475        0        0        475        166        309        0   

Corporate securities

    85,431        296        (241     85,486        6        6,298        79,182   

Municipal securities

    940        8        0        948        0        0        948   

Mortgage- and asset-backed securities

    12,907        26        (49     12,884        0        25        12,859   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal

    141,023        417        (379     141,061        2,066        8,833        130,162   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $   155,332      $       418      $ (511   $   155,239      $ 13,844      $   11,233      $   130,162   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following tables show the Company’s derivative instruments at gross fair value as of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014 (in millions):

 

     2015
     Fair Value of
Derivatives Designated
as Hedge Instruments
   Fair Value of
Derivatives Not Designated
as Hedge Instruments
   Total
Fair Value

Derivative assets (1):

              

Foreign exchange contracts

     $     1,442        $        109        $     1,551  

Interest rate contracts

     $ 394        $ 0        $ 394  

Derivative liabilities (2):

              

Foreign exchange contracts

     $ 905        $ 94        $ 999  

Interest rate contracts

     $ 13        $ 0        $ 13  

 

     2014
     Fair Value of
Derivatives Designated
as Hedge Instruments
   Fair Value of
Derivatives Not Designated
as Hedge Instruments
   Total
Fair Value

Derivative assets (1):

    

Foreign exchange contracts

     $     1,332        $        222        $     1,554  

Interest rate contracts

     $ 81        $ 0        $ 81  

Derivative liabilities (2):

    

Foreign exchange contracts

     $ 41        $ 40        $ 81  

 

  (1) 

The fair value of derivative assets is measured using Level 2 fair value inputs and is recorded as other current assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

 

  (2) 

The fair value of derivative liabilities is measured using Level 2 fair value inputs and is recorded as accrued expenses in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

The following table shows the pre-tax gains and losses of the Company’s derivative and non-derivative instruments designated as cash flow, net investment and fair value hedges on OCI and the Consolidated Statements of Operations for 2015, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):

 

                                                                    
     2015      2014      2013  

Gains/(Losses) recognized in OCI – effective portion:

        

Cash flow hedges:

        

Foreign exchange contracts

   $ 3,592       $ 1,750       $ 891   

Interest rate contracts

     (111      (15      12   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $     3,481       $     1,735       $ 903   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net investment hedges:

        

Foreign exchange contracts

   $ 167       $ 53       $ 143   

Foreign currency debt

     (71      0         0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 96       $ 53       $ 143   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gains/(Losses) reclassified from AOCI into net income – effective portion:

        

Cash flow hedges:

        

Foreign exchange contracts

   $ 4,092       $ (154    $ 676   

Interest rate contracts

     (17      (16      (6
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 4,075       $ (170    $        670   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gains/(Losses) on derivative instruments:

        

Fair value hedges:

        

Interest rate contracts

   $ 337       $ 39       $ 0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gains/(Losses) related to hedged items:

        

Fair value hedges:

        

Interest rate contracts

   $ (337    $ (39    $ 0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table shows the notional amounts of the Company’s outstanding derivative instruments and credit risk amounts associated with outstanding or unsettled derivative instruments as of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014 (in millions):

 

                                                                                           
     2015      2014  
       Notional  
Amount
     Credit Risk
Amount
       Notional  
Amount
     Credit Risk
Amount
 

Instruments designated as accounting hedges:

           

Foreign exchange contracts

   $ 70,054       $ 1,385       $ 42,945       $ 1,333   

Interest rate contracts

   $ 18,750       $ 394       $ 12,000       $ 89   
           

Instruments not designated as accounting hedges:

           

Foreign exchange contracts

   $ 49,190       $ 109       $ 38,510       $ 222   
Consolidated Financial Statement Details (Tables)

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net

 

     2015      2014  

Land and buildings

   $ 6,956       $ 4,863   

Machinery, equipment and internal-use software

       37,038           29,639   

Leasehold improvements

     5,263         4,513   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross property, plant and equipment

     49,257         39,015   

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (26,786      (18,391
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total property, plant and equipment, net

   $ 22,471       $ 20,624   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other Non-Current Liabilities

 

                                                 
     2015      2014  

Deferred tax liabilities

   $   24,062       $   20,259   

Other non-current liabilities

     9,365         4,567   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other non-current liabilities

   $ 33,427       $ 24,826   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other Income/(Expense), Net

The following table shows the detail of other income/(expense), net for 2015, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):

 

                                                                          
     2015      2014      2013  

Interest and dividend income

   $     2,921       $     1,795       $     1,616   

Interest expense

     (733      (384      (136

Other expense, net

     (903      (431      (324
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other income/(expense), net

   $ 1,285       $ 980       $ 1,156   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)

The following table summarizes the components of gross and net intangible asset balances as of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014 (in millions):

 

                                                                                                                                                     
    2015     2014  
    Gross
    Carrying    
Amount
    Accumulated
Amortization
    Net Carrying
Amount
    Gross
    Carrying    
Amount
    Accumulated
Amortization
    Net Carrying
Amount
 

Definite-lived and amortizable acquired intangible assets

  $ 8,125      $ (4,332   $ 3,793      $ 7,127      $ (3,085   $ 4,042   

Indefinite-lived and non-amortizable acquired intangible assets

    100        0        100        100        0        100   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total acquired intangible assets

  $ 8,225      $ (4,332   $ 3,893      $ 7,227      $ (3,085   $ 4,142   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table summarizes the components of gross and net intangible asset balances as of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014 (in millions):

 

                                                                                                                                                     
    2015     2014  
    Gross
    Carrying    
Amount
    Accumulated
Amortization
    Net Carrying
Amount
    Gross
    Carrying    
Amount
    Accumulated
Amortization
    Net Carrying
Amount
 

Definite-lived and amortizable acquired intangible assets

  $ 8,125      $ (4,332   $ 3,793      $ 7,127      $ (3,085   $ 4,042   

Indefinite-lived and non-amortizable acquired intangible assets

    100        0        100        100        0        100   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total acquired intangible assets

  $ 8,225      $ (4,332   $ 3,893      $ 7,227      $ (3,085   $ 4,142   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The expected annual amortization expense related to acquired intangible assets as of September 26, 2015, is as follows (in millions):

 

                        

2016

   $ 1,288   

2017

       1,033   

2018

     786   

2019

     342   

2020

     166   

Thereafter

     178   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 3,793   
  

 

 

 
Income Taxes (Tables)

The provision for income taxes for 2015, 2014 and 2013, consisted of the following (in millions):

 

                                            
     2015      2014      2013  

Federal:

        

Current

   $   11,730       $ 8,624       $ 9,334   

Deferred

     3,408         3,183         1,878   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     15,138         11,807         11,212   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

State:

        

Current

     1,265         855         1,084   

Deferred

     (220      (178      (311
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     1,045         677         773   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Foreign:

        

Current

     4,744         2,147         1,559   

Deferred

     (1,806      (658      (426
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     2,938         1,489         1,133   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes

   $ 19,121       $   13,973       $   13,118   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes, with the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate (35% in 2015, 2014 and 2013) to income before provision for income taxes for 2015, 2014 and 2013, is as follows (dollars in millions):

 

                                            
     2015      2014      2013  

Computed expected tax

   $   25,380       $   18,719       $   17,554   

State taxes, net of federal effect

     680         469         508   

Indefinitely invested earnings of foreign subsidiaries

     (6,470      (4,744      (4,614

Domestic production activities deduction

     (426      (495      (308

Research and development credit, net

     (171      (88      (287

Other

     128         112         265   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes

   $ 19,121       $ 13,973       $ 13,118   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Effective tax rate

     26.4%         26.1%         26.2%   

As of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014, the significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities were (in millions):

 

     2015      2014  

Deferred tax assets:

     

Accrued liabilities and other reserves

   $     4,205       $     3,326   

Basis of capital assets and investments

     2,238         898   

Deferred revenue

     1,941         1,787   

Deferred cost sharing

     667         0   

Share-based compensation

     575         454   

Unrealized losses

     564         130   

Other

     721         227   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance of $0

     10,911         6,822   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

     

Unremitted earnings of foreign subsidiaries

     26,868         21,544   

Other

     303         398   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total deferred tax liabilities

     27,171         21,942   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net deferred tax liabilities

   $ (16,260    $ (15,120
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The aggregate changes in the balance of gross unrecognized tax benefits, which excludes interest and penalties, for 2015, 2014 and 2013, is as follows (in millions):

 

     2015      2014      2013  

Beginning Balance

   $     4,033       $     2,714       $     2,062   

Increases related to tax positions taken during a prior year

     2,056         1,295         745   

Decreases related to tax positions taken during a prior year

     (345      (280      (118

Increases related to tax positions taken during the current year

     1,278         882         626   

Decreases related to settlements with taxing authorities

     (109      (574      (592

Decreases related to expiration of statute of limitations

     (13      (4      (9
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ending Balance

   $ 6,900       $ 4,033       $ 2,714   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
Debt (Tables)

The following table provides a summary of cash flows associated with the issuance and maturities of Commercial Paper for 2015 and 2014 (in millions):

 

     2015      2014  

Maturities less than 90 days:

     

Proceeds from (repayments of) commercial paper, net

   $     5,293       $     1,865   

Maturities greater than 90 days:

     

Proceeds from commercial paper

     3,851         4,771   

Repayments of commercial paper

     (6,953      (330
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Maturities greater than 90 days, net

     (3,102      4,441   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total change in commercial paper, net

   $ 2,191       $ 6,306   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table provides a summary of the Company’s term debt as of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014:

 

          2015     2014  
    Maturities     Amount
  (in millions)  
    Effective
Interest Rate
    Amount
  (in millions)  
    Effective
Interest Rate
 

2013 debt issuance of $17.0 billion:

         

Floating-rate notes

    2016 – 2018      $ 3,000        0.51% – 1.10%      $ 3,000        0.51% – 1.10%   

Fixed-rate 0.45% – 3.85% notes

    2016 – 2043        14,000        0.51% – 3.91%        14,000        0.51% – 3.91%   

2014 debt issuance of $12.0 billion:

         

Floating-rate notes

    2017 – 2019        2,000        0.37% – 0.60%        2,000        0.31% – 0.54%   

Fixed-rate 1.05% – 4.45% notes

    2017 – 2044        10,000        0.37% – 4.48%        10,000        0.30% – 4.48%   

First quarter 2015 euro-denominated debt issuance of 2.8 billion:

         

Fixed-rate 1.000% notes

    2022        1,558        2.94%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 1.625% notes

    2026        1,558        3.45%        0        0       

Second quarter 2015 debt issuance of $6.5 billion:

         

Floating-rate notes

    2020        500        0.56%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 1.55% notes

    2020        1,250        0.56%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 2.15% notes

    2022        1,250        0.87%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 2.50% notes

    2025        1,500        2.60%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 3.45% notes

    2045        2,000        3.58%        0        0       

Second quarter 2015 Swiss franc-denominated debt issuance of SFr1.25 billion:

         

Fixed-rate 0.375% notes

    2024        895        0.28%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 0.750% notes

    2030        384        0.74%        0        0       

Third quarter 2015 debt issuance of $8.0 billion:

         

Floating-rate notes

    2017        250        0.36%        0        0       

Floating-rate notes

    2020        500        0.61%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 0.900% notes

    2017        750        0.35%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 2.000% notes

    2020        1,250        0.61%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 2.700% notes

    2022        1,250        0.99%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 3.200% notes

    2025        2,000        1.22%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 4.375% notes

    2045        2,000        4.40%        0        0       

Third quarter 2015 Japanese yen-denominated debt issuance of ¥250.0 billion:

         

Fixed-rate 0.35% notes

    2020        2,081        0.35%        0        0       

Fourth quarter 2015 British pound-denominated debt issuance of £1.25 billion:

         

Fixed-rate 3.05% notes

    2029        1,148        3.79%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 3.60% notes

    2042        766        4.51%        0        0       

Fourth quarter 2015 Australian dollar-denominated debt issuance of A$2.25 billion:

         

Floating-rate notes

    2019        493        1.87%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 2.85% notes

    2019        282        1.89%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 3.70% notes

    2022        810        2.79%        0        0       

Fourth quarter 2015 euro-denominated debt issuance of 2.0 billion:

         

Fixed-rate 1.375% notes

    2024        1,113        3.30%        0        0       

Fixed-rate 2.000% notes

    2027        1,113        3.85%        0        0       
   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Total term debt

      55,701          29,000     

Unamortized discount

      (114       (52  

Hedge accounting fair value adjustments

      376          39     

Less: Current portion of long-term debt

      (2,500       0     
   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Total long-term debt

    $ 53,463        $ 28,987     
   

 

 

     

 

 

   

The future principal payments for the Company’s Notes as of September 26, 2015 are as follows (in millions):

 

              

2016

   $ 2,500   

2017

     3,500   

2018

     6,000   

2019

     3,775   

2020

     5,581   

Thereafter

     34,345   
  

 

 

 

Total term debt

   $   55,701   
  

 

 

 
Shareholders' Equity (Tables)

The Company declared and paid cash dividends per share during the periods presented as follows:

 

                             
     Dividends
Per Share
     Amount
(in millions)
 

2015:

     

Fourth quarter

   $ 0.52       $ 2,950   

Third quarter

     0.52         2,997   

Second quarter

     0.47         2,734   

First quarter

     0.47         2,750   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total cash dividends declared and paid

   $ 1.98       $   11,431   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

2014:

     

Fourth quarter

   $ 0.47       $ 2,807   

Third quarter

     0.47         2,830   

Second quarter

     0.44         2,655   

First quarter

     0.44         2,739   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total cash dividends declared and paid

   $ 1.82       $ 11,031   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table shows the Company’s ASR activity and related information during the years ended September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014:

 

     Purchase
Period End

Date
     Number of
Shares
(in thousands)
    Average
Repurchase
Price Per
Share
     ASR
Amount
  (in millions)  
 

May 2015 ASR

     July 2015         48,293  (1)    $ 124.24       $ 6,000   

August 2014 ASR

     February 2015         81,525  (2)    $ 110.40       $ 9,000   

January 2014 ASR

     December 2014         134,247      $ 89.39       $ 12,000   

April 2013 ASR

     March 2014         172,548      $ 69.55       $ 12,000   

 

  (1) 

Includes 38.3 million shares delivered and retired at the beginning of the purchase period, which began in the third quarter of 2015 and 10.0 million shares delivered and retired at the end of the purchase period, which concluded in the fourth quarter of 2015.

 

 

  (2) 

Includes 59.9 million shares delivered and retired at the beginning of the purchase period, which began in the fourth quarter of 2014, 8.3 million net shares delivered and retired in the first quarter of 2015 and 13.3 million shares delivered and retired at the end of the purchase period, which concluded in the second quarter of 2015.

 

Additionally, the Company repurchased shares of its common stock in the open market, which were retired upon repurchase, during the periods presented as follows:

 

     Number of Shares
(in thousands)
     Average Repurchase
Price Per Share
     Amount
   
(in millions)   
 
2015:         

Fourth quarter

     121,802       $ 115.15       $ 14,026   

Third quarter

     31,231       $ 128.08         4,000   

Second quarter

     56,400       $ 124.11         7,000   

First quarter

     45,704       $ 109.40         5,000   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total open market common stock repurchases

     255,137          $ 30,026   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 
        
2014:         

Fourth quarter

     81,255       $ 98.46       $ 8,000   

Third quarter

     58,661       $ 85.23         5,000   

Second quarter

     79,749       $ 75.24         6,000   

First quarter

     66,847       $ 74.79         5,000   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total open market common stock repurchases

     286,512          $ 24,000   
  

 

 

       

 

 

 
Comprehensive Income (Tables)

The following table shows the pre-tax amounts reclassified from AOCI into the Consolidated Statements of Operations, and the associated financial statement line item, for 2015 and 2014 (in millions):

 

Comprehensive Income Components

  

Financial Statement Line Item

           2015                      2014          

Unrealized (gains)/losses on derivative instruments:

        

Foreign exchange contracts

  

Revenue

   $ (2,432    $ 449   
  

Cost of sales

     (2,168      (295
  

Other income/(expense), net            

     456         15   

Interest rate contracts

  

Other income/(expense), net

     17         16   
     

 

 

    

 

 

 
        (4,127          185   

Unrealized (gains)/losses on marketable securities

   Other income/(expense), net      91         (205
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total amounts reclassified from AOCI

      $ (4,036    $ (20
     

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table shows the changes in AOCI by component for 2015 (in millions):

 

     Cumulative
Foreign
Currency

  Translation   
     Unrealized
Gains/Losses
on Derivative
Instruments
     Unrealized
Gains/Losses
on Marketable
Securities
             Total          

Balance at September 28, 2013

   $ (105    $ (175    $ (191    $ (471
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications

     (187      1,687         438         1,938   

Amounts reclassified from AOCI

     0         185         (205      (20

Tax effect

     50         (333      (82      (365
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income/(loss)

     (137      1,539         151         1,553   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at September 27, 2014

     (242      1,364         (40      1,082   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications

     (612      3,346         (747      1,987   

Amounts reclassified from AOCI

     0         (4,127      91         (4,036

Tax effect

        201         189            232         622   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income/(loss)

     (411      (592      (424      (1,427
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at September 26, 2015

   $ (653    $ 772       $ (464    $ (345
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
Benefit Plans (Tables)

A summary of the Company’s RSU activity and related information for 2015, 2014 and 2013, is as follows:

 

     Number of
RSUs
     (in thousands)     
     Weighted-Average
Grant Date Fair
Value Per Share
     Aggregate
    Intrinsic Value    

(in millions)
 

Balance at September 29, 2012

     105,037       $ 49.27      

RSUs granted

     39,415       $ 78.23      

RSUs vested

     (42,291    $ 45.96      

RSUs cancelled

     (8,877    $ 57.31      
  

 

 

       

Balance at September 28, 2013

     93,284       $ 62.24      

RSUs granted

     59,269       $ 74.54      

RSUs vested

     (43,111    $ 57.29      

RSUs cancelled

     (5,620    $ 68.47      
  

 

 

       

Balance at September 27, 2014

     103,822       $ 70.98      

RSUs granted

     45,587       $ 105.51      

RSUs vested

     (41,684    $ 71.32      

RSUs cancelled

     (6,258    $ 80.34      
  

 

 

       

Balance at September 26, 2015

     101,467       $ 85.77       $ 11,639   
  

 

 

       

The following table shows a summary of the share-based compensation expense included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for 2015, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):

 

     2015      2014      2013  

Cost of sales

   $ 575       $ 450       $ 350   

Research and development

      1,536          1,216             917   

Selling, general and administrative

     1,475         1,197         986   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total share-based compensation expense

   $   3,586       $   2,863       $   2,253   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)

The following table shows changes in the Company’s accrued warranties and related costs for 2015, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):

 

     2015      2014      2013  

Beginning accrued warranty and related costs

   $ 4,159       $ 2,967       $ 1,638   

Cost of warranty claims

     (4,401      (3,760      (3,703

Accruals for product warranty

     5,022         4,952         5,032   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ending accrued warranty and related costs

   $   4,780       $   4,159       $   2,967   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases having remaining terms in excess of one year as of September 26, 2015, are as follows (in millions):

 

2016

   $ 772   

2017

     774   

2018

     744   

2019

     715   

2020

     674   

Thereafter

     2,592   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $   6,271   
  

 

 

 
Segment Information and Geographic Data (Tables)

The following table shows information by reportable operating segment for 2015, 2014 and 2013 (in millions):

 

     2015      2014      2013  

Americas:

        

Net sales

   $   93,864       $   80,095       $   77,093   

Operating income

   $ 31,186       $ 26,158       $ 24,829   
        

Europe:

        

Net sales

   $ 50,337       $ 44,285       $ 40,980   

Operating income

   $ 16,527       $ 14,434       $ 12,767   

Greater China:

        

Net sales

   $ 58,715       $ 31,853       $ 27,016   

Operating income

   $ 23,002       $ 11,039       $ 8,499   
        

Japan:

        

Net sales

   $ 15,706       $ 15,314       $ 13,782   

Operating income

   $ 7,617       $ 6,904       $ 6,668   

Rest of Asia Pacific:

        

Net sales

   $ 15,093       $ 11,248       $ 12,039   

Operating income

   $ 5,518       $ 3,674       $ 3,762   

A reconciliation of the Company’s segment operating income to the Consolidated Statements of Operations for 2015, 2014 and 2013 is as follows (in millions):

 

                                                  
     2015      2014      2013  

Segment operating income

   $     83,850       $     62,209       $     56,525   

Research and development expense

     (8,067      (6,041      (4,475

Other corporate expenses, net

     (4,553      (3,665      (3,051
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating income

   $ 71,230       $ 52,503       $ 48,999   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net sales for 2015, 2014 and 2013 are as follows (in millions):

 

                                                  
     2015      2014      2013  

Net sales:

        

U.S.

   $ 81,732       $ 68,909       $ 66,197   

China (1)

     56,547         30,638         25,946   

Other countries

     95,436         83,248         78,767   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net sales

   $   233,715       $   182,795       $   170,910   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (1)

China includes Hong Kong. 

 

Long-lived assets as of September 26, 2015 and September 27, 2014 are as follows (in millions):

 

   2015      2014         

Long-lived assets:

        

U.S.

   $ 12,022       $ 9,108      

China (1)

     8,722         9,477      

Other countries

     3,040         2,917      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total long-lived assets

   $ 23,784       $ 21,502      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

  (1)

China includes Hong Kong. Long-lived assets located in China consist primarily of product tooling and manufacturing process equipment and assets related to retail stores and related infrastructure.

Net sales by product for 2015, 2014 and 2013 are as follows (in millions):

 

                                                  
     2015      2014      2013  

Net Sales by Product:

        

iPhone (1)

   $ 155,041       $ 101,991       $ 91,279   

iPad (1)

     23,227         30,283         31,980   

Mac (1)

     25,471         24,079         21,483   

Services (2)

     19,909         18,063         16,051   

Other Products (1)(3)

     10,067         8,379         10,117   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net sales

   $   233,715       $   182,795       $   170,910   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (1) 

Includes deferrals and amortization of related software upgrade rights and non-software services.

 

 

  (2) 

Includes revenue from the iTunes Store, App Store, Mac App Store, iBooks Store, Apple Music, AppleCare, Apple Pay, licensing and other services.

 

 

  (3) 

Includes sales of Apple TV, Apple Watch, Beats products, iPod and Apple-branded and third-party accessories.

 
Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Tables)
Summary of Quarterly Financial Information

The following tables show a summary of the Company’s quarterly financial information for each of the four quarters of 2015 and 2014 (in millions, except per share amounts):

 

      Fourth Quarter         Third Quarter        Second Quarter         First Quarter     

2015:

           

Net sales

   $ 51,501       $ 49,605       $ 58,010       $ 74,599   

Gross margin

   $ 20,548       $ 19,681       $ 23,656       $ 29,741   

Net income

   $ 11,124       $ 10,677       $ 13,569       $ 18,024   

Earnings per share (1):

           

Basic

   $ 1.97       $ 1.86       $ 2.34       $ 3.08   

Diluted

   $ 1.96       $ 1.85       $ 2.33       $ 3.06   

 

      Fourth Quarter         Third Quarter        Second Quarter         First Quarter     

2014:

           

Net sales

   $ 42,123       $ 37,432       $ 45,646       $ 57,594   

Gross margin

   $ 16,009       $ 14,735       $ 17,947       $ 21,846   

Net income

   $ 8,467       $ 7,748       $ 10,223       $ 13,072   

Earnings per share (1):

           

Basic

   $ 1.43       $ 1.29       $ 1.67       $ 2.08   

Diluted

   $ 1.42       $ 1.28       $ 1.66       $ 2.07   

 

  (1) 

Basic and diluted earnings per share are computed independently for each of the quarters presented. Therefore, the sum of quarterly basic and diluted per share information may not equal annual basic and diluted earnings per share.

 
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Item
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Sep. 26, 2015
Minimum
Sep. 26, 2015
Minimum
Sep. 26, 2015
Maximum
Sep. 26, 2015
Maximum
Sep. 26, 2015
Building
Maximum
Sep. 26, 2015
Machinery and Equipment
Minimum
Sep. 26, 2015
Machinery and Equipment
Maximum
Sep. 26, 2015
Leasehold Improvements
Maximum
Sep. 26, 2015
Internal-Use Software
Minimum
Sep. 26, 2015
Internal-Use Software
Maximum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deliverable in arrangements
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Decrease in estimated selling price for iOS devices and Mac to reflect the increase in competitive offers (USD/unit sold)
 
 
 
$ 5 
 
$ 10 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Advertising expense
1,800,000,000 
1,200,000,000 
1,100,000,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Measurement of tax position, minimum likelihood of tax benefits being realized upon ultimate settlement, percentage
50.00% 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Estimated useful lives of assets (Years)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
30 years 
1 year 
5 years 
10 years 
3 years 
5 years 
Depreciation and amortization expense
9,200,000,000 
6,900,000,000 
5,800,000,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Goodwill impairment charges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Indefinite lived intangible asset impairment charges
$ 0 
$ 0 
$ 0 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortized acquired intangible assets with definite lives useful period (in years)
 
 
 
 
3 years 
 
7 years 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Jun. 27, 2015
Mar. 28, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Sep. 27, 2014
Jun. 28, 2014
Mar. 29, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Numerator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
$ 11,124 
$ 10,677 
$ 13,569 
$ 18,024 
$ 8,467 
$ 7,748 
$ 10,223 
$ 13,072 
$ 53,394 
$ 39,510 
$ 37,037 
Denominator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted-average shares outstanding
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5,753,421 
6,085,572 
6,477,320 
Effect of dilutive securities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
39,648 
37,091 
44,314 
Weighted-average diluted shares
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5,793,069 
6,122,663 
6,521,634 
Basic earnings per share
$ 1.97 1
$ 1.86 1
$ 2.34 1
$ 3.08 1
$ 1.43 1
$ 1.29 1
$ 1.67 1
$ 2.08 1
$ 9.28 
$ 6.49 
$ 5.72 
Diluted earnings per share
$ 1.96 1
$ 1.85 1
$ 2.33 1
$ 3.06 1
$ 1.42 1
$ 1.28 1
$ 1.66 1
$ 2.07 1
$ 9.22 
$ 6.45 
$ 5.68 
Cash and Available-for-Sale Securities' Adjusted Cost, Gross Unrealized Gains, Gross Unrealized Losses and Fair Value Recorded as Cash and Cash Equivalents or Short-Term or Long-Term Marketable Securities (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Sep. 29, 2012
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
Adjusted Cost
$ 206,420 
$ 155,332 
 
 
Unrealized Gains
574 
418 
 
 
Unrealized Losses
(1,328)
(511)
 
 
Fair Value
205,666 
155,239 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
21,120 
13,844 
14,259 
10,746 
Short-term marketable securities
20,481 
11,233 
 
 
Long-term marketable securities
164,065 
130,162 
 
 
Cash
 
 
 
 
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
Adjusted Cost
11,389 
10,232 
 
 
Unrealized Gains
 
 
Unrealized Losses
 
 
Fair Value
11,389 
10,232 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
11,389 
10,232 
 
 
Short-term marketable securities
 
 
Long-term marketable securities
 
 
Level 1
 
 
 
 
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
Adjusted Cost
3,570 
4,077 
 
 
Unrealized Gains
 
 
Unrealized Losses
(144)
(132)
 
 
Fair Value
3,426 
3,946 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
1,798 
1,546 
 
 
Short-term marketable securities
1,628 
2,400 
 
 
Long-term marketable securities
 
 
Level 1 |
Money market funds
 
 
 
 
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
Adjusted Cost
1,798 
1,546 
 
 
Unrealized Gains
 
 
Unrealized Losses
 
 
Fair Value
1,798 
1,546 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
1,798 
1,546 
 
 
Short-term marketable securities
 
 
Long-term marketable securities
 
 
Level 1 |
Mutual funds
 
 
 
 
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
Adjusted Cost
1,772 
2,531 
 
 
Unrealized Gains
 
 
Unrealized Losses
(144)
(132)
 
 
Fair Value
1,628 
2,400 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
 
Short-term marketable securities
1,628 
2,400 
 
 
Long-term marketable securities
 
 
Level 2
 
 
 
 
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
Adjusted Cost
191,461 
141,023 
 
 
Unrealized Gains
574 
417 
 
 
Unrealized Losses
(1,184)
(379)
 
 
Fair Value
190,851 
141,061 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
7,933 
2,066 
 
 
Short-term marketable securities
18,853 
8,833 
 
 
Long-term marketable securities
164,065 
130,162 
 
 
Level 2 |
U.S. Treasury securities
 
 
 
 
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
Adjusted Cost
34,902 
23,140 
 
 
Unrealized Gains
181 
15 
 
 
Unrealized Losses
(1)
(9)
 
 
Fair Value
35,082 
23,146 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
12 
 
 
Short-term marketable securities
3,498 
607 
 
 
Long-term marketable securities
31,584 
22,527 
 
 
Level 2 |
U.S. agency securities
 
 
 
 
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
Adjusted Cost
5,864 
7,373 
 
 
Unrealized Gains
14 
 
 
Unrealized Losses
(11)
 
 
Fair Value
5,878 
7,365 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
841 
652 
 
 
Short-term marketable securities
767 
157 
 
 
Long-term marketable securities
4,270 
6,556 
 
 
Level 2 |
Non-U.S. government securities
 
 
 
 
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
Adjusted Cost
6,356 
6,925 
 
 
Unrealized Gains
45 
69 
 
 
Unrealized Losses
(167)
(69)
 
 
Fair Value
6,234 
6,925 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
43 
 
 
Short-term marketable securities
135 
204 
 
 
Long-term marketable securities
6,056 
6,721 
 
 
Level 2 |
Certificates of deposit and time deposits
 
 
 
 
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
Adjusted Cost
4,347 
3,832 
 
 
Unrealized Gains
 
 
Unrealized Losses
 
 
Fair Value
4,347 
3,832 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
2,065 
1,230 
 
 
Short-term marketable securities
1,405 
1,233 
 
 
Long-term marketable securities
877 
1,369 
 
 
Level 2 |
Commercial paper
 
 
 
 
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
Adjusted Cost
6,016 
475 
 
 
Unrealized Gains
 
 
Unrealized Losses
 
 
Fair Value
6,016 
475 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
4,981 
166 
 
 
Short-term marketable securities
1,035 
309 
 
 
Long-term marketable securities
 
 
Level 2 |
Corporate securities
 
 
 
 
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
Adjusted Cost
116,908 
85,431 
 
 
Unrealized Gains
242 
296 
 
 
Unrealized Losses
(985)
(241)
 
 
Fair Value
116,165 
85,486 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
 
Short-term marketable securities
11,948 
6,298 
 
 
Long-term marketable securities
104,214 
79,182 
 
 
Level 2 |
Municipal securities
 
 
 
 
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
Adjusted Cost
947 
940 
 
 
Unrealized Gains
 
 
Unrealized Losses
 
 
Fair Value
952 
948 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
 
Short-term marketable securities
48 
 
 
Long-term marketable securities
904 
948 
 
 
Level 2 |
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
 
 
 
 
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
Adjusted Cost
16,121 
12,907 
 
 
Unrealized Gains
87 
26 
 
 
Unrealized Losses
(31)
(49)
 
 
Fair Value
16,177 
12,884 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
 
Short-term marketable securities
17 
25 
 
 
Long-term marketable securities
$ 16,160 
$ 12,859 
 
 
Financial Instruments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Financial Instruments [Line Items]
 
 
Maturities of long-term marketable securities, minimum
1 year 
 
Maturities of long-term marketable securities, maximum
5 years 
 
Hedged foreign currency transactions, typical term
12 months 
 
Hedged interest rate transactions, expected period to be recognized
10 years 
 
Net cash collateral received, derivative instruments
$ 1,000,000,000 
$ 2,100,000,000 
Reduction to derivative assets by rights of set-off associated with derivative contracts
2,200,000,000 
1,600,000,000 
Reduction to derivative liabilities by rights of set-off associated with derivative contracts
2,200,000,000 
1,600,000,000 
Net derivative assets (liabilities)
$ (78,000,000)
$ (549,000,000)
Number of customers representing 10% or more of trade receivables
Number of vendors representing a significant portion of non-trade receivables
Trade Receivables |
Credit Concentration Risk |
Customer One
 
 
Financial Instruments [Line Items]
 
 
Concentration risk, percentage
12.00% 
16.00% 
Trade Receivables |
Credit Concentration Risk |
Customer Two
 
 
Financial Instruments [Line Items]
 
 
Concentration risk, percentage
 
13.00% 
Trade Receivables |
Credit Concentration Risk |
Cellular Network Carriers
 
 
Financial Instruments [Line Items]
 
 
Concentration risk, percentage
71.00% 
72.00% 
Non-Trade Receivables |
Credit Concentration Risk |
Vendor One
 
 
Financial Instruments [Line Items]
 
 
Concentration risk, percentage
38.00% 
51.00% 
Non-Trade Receivables |
Credit Concentration Risk |
Vendor Two
 
 
Financial Instruments [Line Items]
 
 
Concentration risk, percentage
18.00% 
16.00% 
Non-Trade Receivables |
Credit Concentration Risk |
Vendor Three
 
 
Financial Instruments [Line Items]
 
 
Concentration risk, percentage
14.00% 
14.00% 
Derivative Instruments at Gross Fair Value (Detail) (Level 2, USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Foreign exchange contracts |
Other Current Assets
 
 
Derivative assets:
 
 
Fair Value of Derivative Assets
$ 1,551 1
$ 1,554 1
Foreign exchange contracts |
Accrued expenses
 
 
Derivative liabilities:
 
 
Fair Value of Derivative Liabilities
999 2
81 2
Interest rate contracts |
Other Current Assets
 
 
Derivative assets:
 
 
Fair Value of Derivative Assets
394 1
81 1
Interest rate contracts |
Accrued expenses
 
 
Derivative liabilities:
 
 
Fair Value of Derivative Liabilities
13 2
 
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments |
Foreign exchange contracts |
Other Current Assets
 
 
Derivative assets:
 
 
Fair Value of Derivative Assets
1,442 1
1,332 1
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments |
Foreign exchange contracts |
Accrued expenses
 
 
Derivative liabilities:
 
 
Fair Value of Derivative Liabilities
905 2
41 2
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments |
Interest rate contracts |
Other Current Assets
 
 
Derivative assets:
 
 
Fair Value of Derivative Assets
394 1
81 1
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments |
Interest rate contracts |
Accrued expenses
 
 
Derivative liabilities:
 
 
Fair Value of Derivative Liabilities
13 2
 
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument |
Foreign exchange contracts |
Other Current Assets
 
 
Derivative assets:
 
 
Fair Value of Derivative Assets
109 1
222 1
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument |
Foreign exchange contracts |
Accrued expenses
 
 
Derivative liabilities:
 
 
Fair Value of Derivative Liabilities
94 2
40 2
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument |
Interest rate contracts |
Other Current Assets
 
 
Derivative assets:
 
 
Fair Value of Derivative Assets
1
1
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument |
Interest rate contracts |
Accrued expenses
 
 
Derivative liabilities:
 
 
Fair Value of Derivative Liabilities
$ 0 2
 
Pre-Tax Gains and Losses of Derivative and Non-Derivative Instruments Designated as Cash Flow, Net Investment and Fair Value Hedges (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Cash flow hedges
 
 
 
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
 
 
 
Gains/(Losses) recognized in OCI - effective portion
$ 3,481 
$ 1,735 
$ 903 
Gains/(Losses) reclassified from AOCI into net income - effective portion
4,075 
(170)
670 
Cash flow hedges |
Foreign exchange contracts
 
 
 
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
 
 
 
Gains/(Losses) recognized in OCI - effective portion
3,592 
1,750 
891 
Gains/(Losses) reclassified from AOCI into net income - effective portion
4,092 
(154)
676 
Cash flow hedges |
Interest rate contracts
 
 
 
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
 
 
 
Gains/(Losses) recognized in OCI - effective portion
(111)
(15)
12 
Gains/(Losses) reclassified from AOCI into net income - effective portion
(17)
(16)
(6)
Net investment hedges
 
 
 
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
 
 
 
Gains/(Losses) recognized in OCI - effective portion
96 
53 
143 
Net investment hedges |
Foreign exchange contracts
 
 
 
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
 
 
 
Gains/(Losses) recognized in OCI - effective portion
167 
53 
143 
Net investment hedges |
Foreign currency debt
 
 
 
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
 
 
 
Gains/(Losses) recognized in OCI - effective portion
(71)
Fair value hedges |
Interest rate contracts
 
 
 
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
 
 
 
Gains/(Losses) on derivative instruments
337 
39 
Gains/(Losses) related to hedged items
$ (337)
$ (39)
$ 0 
Notional Amounts of Outstanding Derivative Instruments and Credit Risk Amounts Associated with Outstanding or Unsettled Derivative Instruments (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments |
Foreign exchange contracts
 
 
Derivative [Line Items]
 
 
Notional Amount
$ 70,054 
$ 42,945 
Credit Risk
1,385 
1,333 
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments |
Interest rate contracts
 
 
Derivative [Line Items]
 
 
Notional Amount
18,750 
12,000 
Credit Risk
394 
89 
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument |
Foreign exchange contracts
 
 
Derivative [Line Items]
 
 
Notional Amount
49,190 
38,510 
Credit Risk
$ 109 
$ 222 
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
 
 
Gross property, plant and equipment
$ 49,257 
$ 39,015 
Accumulated depreciation and amortization
(26,786)
(18,391)
Total property, plant and equipment, net
22,471 
20,624 
Land and Buildings
 
 
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
 
 
Gross property, plant and equipment
6,956 
4,863 
Machinery, Equipment and Internal-Use Software
 
 
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
 
 
Gross property, plant and equipment
37,038 
29,639 
Leasehold Improvements
 
 
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
 
 
Gross property, plant and equipment
$ 5,263 
$ 4,513 
Other Non-Current Liabilities (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Schedule of Other Liabilities [Line Items]
 
 
Deferred tax liabilities
$ 24,062 
$ 20,259 
Other non-current liabilities
9,365 
4,567 
Total other non-current liabilities
$ 33,427 
$ 24,826 
Other Income/(Expense), Net (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Other Income Expense [Line Items]
 
 
 
Interest and dividend income
$ 2,921 
$ 1,795 
$ 1,616 
Interest expense
(733)
(384)
(136)
Other expense, net
(903)
(431)
(324)
Total other income/(expense), net
$ 1,285 
$ 980 
$ 1,156 
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Jul. 31, 2014
Beats
Jul. 31, 2014
Beats
Jul. 31, 2014
Beats
Restricted Stock
Jul. 31, 2014
Beats
Restricted Stock
Vesting over time, based on continued employment of certain executives
Sep. 27, 2014
Various Business Acquisitions
Sep. 26, 2015
Minimum
Sep. 26, 2015
Maximum
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Business acquisitions, total purchase price consideration
 
 
 
$ 2,600,000,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Business acquisitions allocated to goodwill
 
 
 
2,200,000,000 
 
 
 
828,000,000 
 
 
Business acquisitions allocated to intangible assets
 
 
 
 
636,000,000 
 
 
257,000,000 
 
 
Business acquisitions allocated to net liabilities assumed
 
 
 
 
258,000,000 
 
 
128,000,000 
 
 
Repayment of the outstanding debt of acquired entity
 
 
 
295,000,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock issued in connection with the acquisition, shares
 
 
 
 
 
5.1 
 
 
 
 
Common stock issued in connection with the acquisition
 
 
 
 
 
485,000,000 
417,000,000 
 
 
 
Business acquisitions, aggregate cash consideration paid, net of cash acquired
343,000,000 
3,765,000,000 
496,000,000 
 
 
 
 
957,000,000 
 
 
Amortized acquired intangible assets with definite lives useful period (in years)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3 years 
7 years 
Amortization expense related to acquired intangible assets
$ 1,300,000,000 
$ 1,100,000,000 
$ 960,000,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted-average amortization period for acquired intangible assets
3 years 7 months 6 days 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Components of Gross and Net Intangible Asset Balances (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Acquired Intangible Assets Including Goodwill [Line Items]
 
 
Definite-lived and amortizable acquired intangible assets, Gross Carrying Amount
$ 8,125 
$ 7,127 
Definite-lived and amortizable acquired intangible assets, Accumulated Amortization
(4,332)
(3,085)
Definite-lived and amortizable acquired intangible assets, Net Carrying Amount
3,793 
4,042 
Indefinite-lived and non-amortizable acquired intangible assets
100 
100 
Total acquired intangible assets, Net Carrying Amount
$ 3,893 
$ 4,142 
Provision for Income Taxes (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Federal:
 
 
 
Current
$ 11,730 
$ 8,624 
$ 9,334 
Deferred
3,408 
3,183 
1,878 
Federal Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations, Total
15,138 
11,807 
11,212 
State:
 
 
 
Current
1,265 
855 
1,084 
Deferred
(220)
(178)
(311)
State and Local Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations, Total
1,045 
677 
773 
Foreign:
 
 
 
Current
4,744 
2,147 
1,559 
Deferred
(1,806)
(658)
(426)
Foreign Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations, Total
2,938 
1,489 
1,133 
Provision for income taxes
$ 19,121 
$ 13,973 
$ 13,118 
Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Sep. 29, 2012
Jun. 11, 2014
European Commission
Subsidiary
Jun. 11, 2014
European Commission
Maximum
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign pretax earnings
$ 47,600,000,000 
$ 33,600,000,000 
$ 30,500,000,000 
 
 
 
Statutory tax rate in foreign operations
12.50% 
 
 
 
 
 
Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries
91,500,000,000 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred tax liability related to foreign earnings that may be repatriated
30,000,000,000 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities held by foreign subsidiaries
186,900,000,000 
137,100,000,000 
 
 
 
 
Reconciliation of provision for income taxes, statutory federal income tax rate
35.00% 
35.00% 
35.00% 
 
 
 
Tax benefits from equity awards
748,000,000 
706,000,000 
643,000,000 
 
 
 
Measurement of tax position, minimum likelihood of tax benefits being realized upon ultimate settlement, percentage
50.00% 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross unrecognized tax benefits
6,900,000,000 
4,033,000,000 
2,714,000,000 
2,062,000,000 
 
 
Gross unrecognized tax benefits that would affect effective tax rate, if recognized
2,500,000,000 
1,400,000,000 
 
 
 
 
Unrecognized tax benefits, gross interest and penalties accrued
1,300,000,000 
630,000,000 
 
 
 
 
Recognized interest and penalty expense of tax matters
$ 709,000,000 
$ 40,000,000 
$ 189,000,000 
 
 
 
Income Tax Contingency, Number of Subsidiaries
 
 
 
 
 
Income Tax Contingency, Period of Occurrence
 
 
 
 
 
10 years 
Reconciliation of the Provision for Income Taxes (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Income Taxes [Line Items]
 
 
 
Computed expected tax
$ 25,380 
$ 18,719 
$ 17,554 
State taxes, net of federal effect
680 
469 
508 
Indefinitely invested earnings of foreign subsidiaries
(6,470)
(4,744)
(4,614)
Domestic production activities deduction
(426)
(495)
(308)
Research and development credit, net
(171)
(88)
(287)
Other
128 
112 
265 
Provision for income taxes
$ 19,121 
$ 13,973 
$ 13,118 
Effective tax rate
26.40% 
26.10% 
26.20% 
Significant Components of the Company's Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Deferred tax assets:
 
 
Accrued liabilities and other reserves
$ 4,205 
$ 3,326 
Basis of capital assets and investments
2,238 
898 
Deferred revenue
1,941 
1,787 
Deferred cost sharing
667 
Share-based compensation
575 
454 
Unrealized losses
564 
130 
Other
721 
227 
Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance of $0
10,911 
6,822 
Deferred tax liabilities:
 
 
Unremitted earnings of foreign subsidiaries
26,868 
21,544 
Other
303 
398 
Total deferred tax liabilities
27,171 
21,942 
Net deferred tax liabilities
$ (16,260)
$ (15,120)
Significant Components of the Company's Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Deferred tax assets:
 
 
Deferred tax assets, valuation allowance
$ 0 
$ 0 
Aggregate Changes in Gross Unrecognized Tax Benefits Excluding Interest and Penalties (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Income Taxes [Line Items]
 
 
 
Beginning Balance
$ 4,033 
$ 2,714 
$ 2,062 
Increases related to tax positions taken during a prior year
2,056 
1,295 
745 
Decreases related to tax positions taken during a prior year
(345)
(280)
(118)
Increases related to tax positions taken during the current year
1,278 
882 
626 
Decreases related to settlements with taxing authorities
(109)
(574)
(592)
Decreases related to expiration of statute of limitations
(13)
(4)
(9)
Ending Balance
$ 6,900 
$ 4,033 
$ 2,714 
Debt - Additional Information (Detail)
12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
USD ($)
Sep. 27, 2014
USD ($)
Sep. 28, 2013
USD ($)
Sep. 26, 2015
First quarter 2015 euro-denominated debt issuance
EUR (€)
Sep. 26, 2015
Fourth quarter 2015 British pound-denominated debt issuance
GBP (£)
Sep. 26, 2015
Fourth quarter 2015 Australian dollar-denominated debt issuance
AUD ($)
Sep. 26, 2015
Fourth quarter 2015 euro-denominated debt issuance
EUR (€)
Sep. 26, 2015
Second quarter 2015 debt issuance
USD ($)
Sep. 26, 2015
Third quarter 2015 debt issuance
USD ($)
Sep. 26, 2015
Third quarter 2015 Japanese yen-denominated debt issuance
JPY (¥)
Sep. 26, 2015
Net investment hedges
Third quarter 2015 Japanese yen-denominated debt issuance
USD ($)
Sep. 26, 2015
Net investment hedges
Third quarter 2015 Japanese yen-denominated debt issuance
JPY (¥)
Dec. 27, 2014
Currency Swaps
First quarter 2015 euro-denominated debt issuance
USD ($)
Sep. 26, 2015
Currency Swaps
Fourth quarter 2015 British pound-denominated debt issuance
USD ($)
Sep. 26, 2015
Currency Swaps
Fourth quarter 2015 Australian dollar-denominated debt issuance
USD ($)
Sep. 26, 2015
Currency Swaps
Fourth quarter 2015 euro-denominated debt issuance
USD ($)
Mar. 28, 2015
Interest Rate Swaps
Second quarter 2015 debt issuance
USD ($)
Jun. 27, 2015
Interest Rate Swaps
Third quarter 2015 debt issuance
USD ($)
Sep. 26, 2015
Commercial paper
Sep. 27, 2014
Commercial paper
Sep. 26, 2015
Commercial paper
Maximum
Sep. 26, 2015
Level 2
USD ($)
Sep. 27, 2014
Level 2
USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial paper
$ 8,499,000,000 
$ 6,308,000,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial paper, weighted-average interest rate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
0.14% 
0.12% 
 
 
 
Commercial paper, maturity period
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9 months 
 
 
Debt instrument aggregate principal amount
55,701,000,000 
29,000,000,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notional Amount
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3,500,000,000 
1,900,000,000 
1,600,000,000 
2,200,000,000 
2,500,000,000 
4,300,000,000 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt instrument, face amount
 
 
 
2,800,000,000 
1,250,000,000 
2,250,000,000 
2,000,000,000 
6,500,000,000 
8,000,000,000 
250,000,000,000 
 
250,000,000,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2,100,000,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense
722,000,000 
381,000,000 
136,000,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt instrument fair value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$ 54,900,000,000 
$ 28,500,000,000 
Summary of Cash Flows Associated With Issuance and Maturities of Commercial Paper (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Maturities less than 90 days:
 
 
 
Proceeds from (repayments of) commercial paper, net
$ 5,293 
$ 1,865 
 
Maturities greater than 90 days:
 
 
 
Proceeds from commercial paper
3,851 
4,771 
 
Repayments of commercial paper
(6,953)
(330)
 
Maturities greater than 90 days, net
(3,102)
4,441 
 
Total change in commercial paper, net
$ 2,191 
$ 6,306 
$ 0 
Summary of Term Debt (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Total term debt
$ 55,701 
$ 29,000 
Unamortized discount
(114)
(52)
Hedge accounting fair value adjustments
376 
39 
Less: Current portion of long-term debt
(2,500)
Total long-term debt
53,463 
28,987 
2013 debt issuance |
Floating-rate notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
3,000 
3,000 
Debt instrument maturity year, start
2016 
2016 
Debt instrument maturity year, end
2018 
2018 
Debt instrument effective interest rate, minimum
0.51% 
0.51% 
Debt instrument effective interest rate, maximum
1.10% 
1.10% 
2013 debt issuance |
Fixed-rate 0.45% - 3.85% notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
14,000 
14,000 
Debt instrument maturity year, start
2016 
2016 
Debt instrument maturity year, end
2043 
2043 
Debt instrument effective interest rate, minimum
0.51% 
0.51% 
Debt instrument effective interest rate, maximum
3.91% 
3.91% 
2014 debt issuance |
Floating-rate notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
2,000 
2,000 
Debt instrument maturity year, start
2017 
2017 
Debt instrument maturity year, end
2019 
2019 
Debt instrument effective interest rate, minimum
0.37% 
0.31% 
Debt instrument effective interest rate, maximum
0.60% 
0.54% 
2014 debt issuance |
Fixed-rate 1.05% - 4.45% notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
10,000 
10,000 
Debt instrument maturity year, start
2017 
2017 
Debt instrument maturity year, end
2044 
2044 
Debt instrument effective interest rate, minimum
0.37% 
0.30% 
Debt instrument effective interest rate, maximum
4.48% 
4.48% 
First quarter 2015 euro-denominated debt issuance |
Fixed-rate 1.000% notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
1,558 
Debt instrument maturity year
2022 
2022 
Debt instrument effective interest rate
2.94% 
0.00% 
First quarter 2015 euro-denominated debt issuance |
Fixed-rate 1.625% notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
1,558 
Debt instrument maturity year
2026 
2026 
Debt instrument effective interest rate
3.45% 
0.00% 
Second quarter 2015 debt issuance |
Floating-rate notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
500 
Debt instrument maturity year
2020 
2020 
Debt instrument effective interest rate
0.56% 
0.00% 
Second quarter 2015 debt issuance |
Fixed-rate 1.55% notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
1,250 
Debt instrument maturity year
2020 
2020 
Debt instrument effective interest rate
0.56% 
0.00% 
Second quarter 2015 debt issuance |
Fixed-rate 2.15% notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
1,250 
Debt instrument maturity year
2022 
2022 
Debt instrument effective interest rate
0.87% 
0.00% 
Second quarter 2015 debt issuance |
Fixed-rate 2.50% notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
1,500 
Debt instrument maturity year
2025 
2025 
Debt instrument effective interest rate
2.60% 
0.00% 
Second quarter 2015 debt issuance |
Fixed-rate 3.45% notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
2,000 
Debt instrument maturity year
2045 
2045 
Debt instrument effective interest rate
3.58% 
0.00% 
Second quarter 2015 Swiss franc-denominated debt issuance |
Fixed-rate 0.375% notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
895 
Debt instrument maturity year
2024 
2024 
Debt instrument effective interest rate
0.28% 
0.00% 
Second quarter 2015 Swiss franc-denominated debt issuance |
Fixed-rate 0.750% notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
384 
Debt instrument maturity year
2030 
2030 
Debt instrument effective interest rate
0.74% 
0.00% 
Third quarter 2015 debt issuance |
Floating-rate notes due 2017
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
250 
Debt instrument maturity year
2017 
2017 
Debt instrument effective interest rate
0.36% 
0.00% 
Third quarter 2015 debt issuance |
Floating-rate notes due 2020
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
500 
Debt instrument maturity year
2020 
2020 
Debt instrument effective interest rate
0.61% 
0.00% 
Third quarter 2015 debt issuance |
Fixed-rate 0.900% notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
750 
Debt instrument maturity year
2017 
2017 
Debt instrument effective interest rate
0.35% 
0.00% 
Third quarter 2015 debt issuance |
Fixed-rate 2.000% notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
1,250 
Debt instrument maturity year
2020 
2020 
Debt instrument effective interest rate
0.61% 
0.00% 
Third quarter 2015 debt issuance |
Fixed-rate 2.700% notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
1,250 
Debt instrument maturity year
2022 
2022 
Debt instrument effective interest rate
0.99% 
0.00% 
Third quarter 2015 debt issuance |
Fixed-rate 3.200% notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
2,000 
Debt instrument maturity year
2025 
2025 
Debt instrument effective interest rate
1.22% 
0.00% 
Third quarter 2015 debt issuance |
Fixed-rate 4.375% notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
2,000 
Debt instrument maturity year
2045 
2045 
Debt instrument effective interest rate
4.40% 
0.00% 
Third quarter 2015 Japanese yen-denominated debt issuance |
Fixed-rate 0.35% notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
2,081 
Debt instrument maturity year
2020 
2020 
Debt instrument effective interest rate
0.35% 
0.00% 
Fourth quarter 2015 British pound-denominated debt issuance |
Fixed-rate 3.05% notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
1,148 
Debt instrument maturity year
2029 
2029 
Debt instrument effective interest rate
3.79% 
0.00% 
Fourth quarter 2015 British pound-denominated debt issuance |
Fixed-rate 3.60% notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
766 
Debt instrument maturity year
2042 
2042 
Debt instrument effective interest rate
4.51% 
0.00% 
Fourth quarter 2015 Australian dollar-denominated debt issuance |
Floating-rate notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
493 
Debt instrument maturity year
2019 
2019 
Debt instrument effective interest rate
1.87% 
0.00% 
Fourth quarter 2015 Australian dollar-denominated debt issuance |
Fixed-rate 2.85% notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
282 
Debt instrument maturity year
2019 
2019 
Debt instrument effective interest rate
1.89% 
0.00% 
Fourth quarter 2015 Australian dollar-denominated debt issuance |
Fixed-rate 3.70% notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
810 
Debt instrument maturity year
2022 
2022 
Debt instrument effective interest rate
2.79% 
0.00% 
Fourth quarter 2015 euro-denominated debt issuance |
Fixed-rate 1.375% notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
1,113 
Debt instrument maturity year
2024 
2024 
Debt instrument effective interest rate
3.30% 
0.00% 
Fourth quarter 2015 euro-denominated debt issuance |
Fixed-rate 2.000% notes
 
 
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
Debt instrument, senior notes
$ 1,113 
$ 0 
Debt instrument maturity year
2027 
2027 
Debt instrument effective interest rate
3.85% 
0.00% 
Summary of Term Debt (Parenthetical) (Detail)
In Billions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
2013 debt issuance
USD ($)
Sep. 27, 2014
2013 debt issuance
USD ($)
Sep. 26, 2015
2013 debt issuance
Fixed-rate 0.45% - 3.85% notes
Sep. 27, 2014
2013 debt issuance
Fixed-rate 0.45% - 3.85% notes
Sep. 26, 2015
2014 debt issuance
USD ($)
Sep. 27, 2014
2014 debt issuance
USD ($)
Sep. 26, 2015
2014 debt issuance
Fixed-rate 1.05% - 4.45% notes
Sep. 27, 2014
2014 debt issuance
Fixed-rate 1.05% - 4.45% notes
Sep. 26, 2015
First quarter 2015 euro-denominated debt issuance
EUR (€)
Sep. 26, 2015
First quarter 2015 euro-denominated debt issuance
Fixed-rate 1.000% notes
Sep. 26, 2015
First quarter 2015 euro-denominated debt issuance
Fixed-rate 1.625% notes
Sep. 26, 2015
Second quarter 2015 debt issuance
USD ($)
Sep. 26, 2015
Second quarter 2015 debt issuance
Fixed-rate 1.55% notes
Sep. 26, 2015
Second quarter 2015 debt issuance
Fixed-rate 2.15% notes
Sep. 26, 2015
Second quarter 2015 debt issuance
Fixed-rate 2.50% notes
Sep. 26, 2015
Second quarter 2015 debt issuance
Fixed-rate 3.45% notes
Sep. 26, 2015
Second quarter 2015 Swiss franc-denominated debt issuance
CHF
Sep. 26, 2015
Second quarter 2015 Swiss franc-denominated debt issuance
Fixed-rate 0.375% notes
Sep. 26, 2015
Second quarter 2015 Swiss franc-denominated debt issuance
Fixed-rate 0.750% notes
Sep. 26, 2015
Third quarter 2015 debt issuance
USD ($)
Sep. 26, 2015
Third quarter 2015 debt issuance
Fixed-rate 0.900% notes
Sep. 26, 2015
Third quarter 2015 debt issuance
Fixed-rate 2.000% notes
Sep. 26, 2015
Third quarter 2015 debt issuance
Fixed-rate 2.700% notes
Sep. 26, 2015
Third quarter 2015 debt issuance
Fixed-rate 3.200% notes
Sep. 26, 2015
Third quarter 2015 debt issuance
Fixed-rate 4.375% notes
Sep. 26, 2015
Third quarter 2015 Japanese yen-denominated debt issuance
JPY (¥)
Sep. 26, 2015
Third quarter 2015 Japanese yen-denominated debt issuance
Fixed-rate 0.35% notes
Sep. 26, 2015
Fourth quarter 2015 British pound-denominated debt issuance
GBP (£)
Sep. 26, 2015
Fourth quarter 2015 British pound-denominated debt issuance
Fixed-rate 3.05% notes
Sep. 26, 2015
Fourth quarter 2015 British pound-denominated debt issuance
Fixed-rate 3.60% notes
Sep. 26, 2015
Fourth quarter 2015 Australian dollar-denominated debt issuance
AUD ($)
Sep. 26, 2015
Fourth quarter 2015 Australian dollar-denominated debt issuance
Fixed-rate 2.85% notes
Sep. 26, 2015
Fourth quarter 2015 Australian dollar-denominated debt issuance
Fixed-rate 3.70% notes
Sep. 26, 2015
Fourth quarter 2015 euro-denominated debt issuance
EUR (€)
Sep. 26, 2015
Fourth quarter 2015 euro-denominated debt issuance
Fixed-rate 1.375% notes
Sep. 26, 2015
Fourth quarter 2015 euro-denominated debt issuance
Fixed-rate 2.000% notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt instrument, face amount
$ 17.00 
$ 17.00 
 
 
$ 12.00 
$ 12.00 
 
 
€ 2.80 
 
 
$ 6.50 
 
 
 
 
 1.25 
 
 
$ 8.00 
 
 
 
 
 
¥ 250.00 
 
£ 1.25 
 
 
$ 2.25 
 
 
€ 2.00 
 
 
Debt instrument interest rate, minimum
 
 
0.45% 
0.45% 
 
 
1.05% 
1.05% 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt instrument interest rate, maximum
 
 
3.85% 
3.85% 
 
 
4.45% 
4.45% 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt instrument interest rate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1.00% 
1.625% 
 
1.55% 
2.15% 
2.50% 
3.45% 
 
0.375% 
0.75% 
 
0.90% 
2.00% 
2.70% 
3.20% 
4.375% 
 
0.35% 
 
3.05% 
3.60% 
 
2.85% 
3.70% 
 
1.375% 
2.00% 
Debt Instrument Future Principal Payments (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal [Line Items]
 
 
2016
$ 2,500 
 
2017
3,500 
 
2018
6,000 
 
2019
3,775 
 
2020
5,581 
 
Thereafter
34,345 
 
Total term debt
$ 55,701 
$ 29,000 
Shareholders' Equity - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
Sep. 26, 2015
Stockholders Equity Note Disclosure [Line Items]
 
Maximum amount authorized for repurchase of common stock
$ 140,000,000,000 
Share repurchase program, utilized amount
$ 104,000,000,000 
Repurchases of Common Shares in Open Market (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Sep. 26, 2015
Open Market Repurchases
Jun. 27, 2015
Open Market Repurchases
Mar. 28, 2015
Open Market Repurchases
Dec. 27, 2014
Open Market Repurchases
Sep. 27, 2014
Open Market Repurchases
Jun. 28, 2014
Open Market Repurchases
Mar. 29, 2014
Open Market Repurchases
Dec. 28, 2013
Open Market Repurchases
Sep. 26, 2015
Open Market Repurchases
Sep. 27, 2014
Open Market Repurchases
Stock Repurchase Program [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of Shares
 
 
 
121,802 
31,231 
56,400 
45,704 
81,255 
58,661 
79,749 
66,847 
255,137 
286,512 
Average Repurchase Price Per Share
 
 
 
$ 115.15 
$ 128.08 
$ 124.11 
$ 109.40 
$ 98.46 
$ 85.23 
$ 75.24 
$ 74.79 
 
 
Amount
$ 36,026 
$ 45,000 
$ 22,950 
$ 14,026 
$ 4,000 
$ 7,000 
$ 5,000 
$ 8,000 
$ 5,000 
$ 6,000 
$ 5,000 
$ 30,026 
$ 24,000 
Pre-tax Amounts Reclassified from AOCI into Consolidated Statements of Operations (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
 
 
Unrealized (gains)/losses on derivative instruments reclassified from AOCI
$ (4,127)
$ 185 
Unrealized (gains)/losses on marketable securities reclassified from AOCI
91 
(205)
Total amounts reclassified from AOCI
(4,036)
(20)
Foreign exchange contracts |
Revenue
 
 
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
 
 
Unrealized (gains)/losses on derivative instruments reclassified from AOCI
(2,432)
449 
Foreign exchange contracts |
Cost of sales
 
 
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
 
 
Unrealized (gains)/losses on derivative instruments reclassified from AOCI
(2,168)
(295)
Foreign exchange contracts |
Other income/expense, net
 
 
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
 
 
Unrealized (gains)/losses on derivative instruments reclassified from AOCI
456 
15 
Interest rate contracts |
Other income/expense, net
 
 
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
 
 
Unrealized (gains)/losses on derivative instruments reclassified from AOCI
$ 17 
$ 16 
Change in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income by Component (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
 
 
 
Beginning balance
$ 1,082 
$ (471)
 
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications
1,987 
1,938 
 
Amounts reclassified from AOCI
(4,036)
(20)
 
Tax effect
622 
(365)
 
Total other comprehensive income/(loss)
(1,427)
1,553 
(970)
Ending balance
(345)
1,082 
(471)
Cumulative Foreign Currency Translation
 
 
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
 
 
 
Beginning balance
(242)
(105)
 
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications
(612)
(187)
 
Amounts reclassified from AOCI
 
Tax effect
201 
50 
 
Total other comprehensive income/(loss)
(411)
(137)
 
Ending balance
(653)
(242)
 
Unrealized Gains/Losses on Derivative Instruments
 
 
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
 
 
 
Beginning balance
1,364 
(175)
 
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications
3,346 
1,687 
 
Amounts reclassified from AOCI
(4,127)
185 
 
Tax effect
189 
(333)
 
Total other comprehensive income/(loss)
(592)
1,539 
 
Ending balance
772 
1,364 
 
Unrealized Gains/Losses on Marketable Securities
 
 
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
 
 
 
Beginning balance
(40)
(191)
 
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications
(747)
438 
 
Amounts reclassified from AOCI
91 
(205)
 
Tax effect
232 
(82)
 
Total other comprehensive income/(loss)
(424)
151 
 
Ending balance
$ (464)
$ (40)
 
Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
 
 
 
Maximum portion of pre-tax earnings under Savings Plan that can be deferred by participating U.S. employees
$ 18,000 
 
 
Employer contribution to Savings Plan
200,000,000 
163,000,000 
135,000,000 
Fair value of vested RSUs as of vesting date
4,800,000,000 
3,400,000,000 
3,100,000,000 
The total shares withheld upon vesting of RSUs
14,100,000 
15,600,000 
15,500,000 
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards
1,600,000,000 
1,200,000,000 
1,100,000,000 
Stock options outstanding
1,200,000 
 
 
Stock options, Weighted average exercise price per share
$ 15.08 
 
 
Stock options, Weighted average remaining contractual term
4 years 1 month 6 days 
 
 
Stock options, Aggregate intrinsic value
120,000,000 
 
 
Total intrinsic value of options at the time of exercise
479,000,000 
1,500,000,000 
1,000,000,000 
Income tax benefit related to share-based compensation expense
1,200,000,000 
1,000,000,000 
816,000,000 
Total unrecognized compensation cost on stock options and RSUs
6,800,000,000 
 
 
Total unrecognized compensation cost on stock options and RSUs, weighted-average recognition period (in years)
2 years 8 months 12 days 
 
 
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
 
 
 
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
 
 
 
Shares reserved for future issuance under Employee Benefit Plans (in shares)
53,000,000 
 
 
Employee common stock purchases through payroll deductions, price as a percentage of fair market value
85.00% 
 
 
Employee stock purchase plan offering period
6 months 
 
 
Payroll deductions as a percentage of employee compensation, maximum
10.00% 
 
 
Minimum
 
 
 
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
 
 
 
Rate of contribution to Savings Plan as a percentage of employees contribution
50.00% 
 
 
Maximum
 
 
 
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
 
 
 
Rate of contribution to Savings Plan as a percentage of employees contribution
100.00% 
 
 
Rate of contribution to Savings Plan as a percentage of employees earning
6.00% 
 
 
Maximum |
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
 
 
 
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
 
 
 
Employee stock purchase program authorized amount
$ 25,000 
 
 
Employee Stock Plan, 2014 Plan
 
 
 
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
 
 
 
RSUs granted vesting period
4 years 
 
 
Shares authorized for future issuance under stock plans (in shares)
385,000,000 
 
 
Shares reserved for future issuance under Employee Benefit Plans (in shares)
442,900,000 
 
 
Employee Stock Plan, 2003 Plan
 
 
 
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
 
 
 
Options granted exercisable period
4 years 
 
 
Employee Stock Plan, 2003 Plan |
Minimum
 
 
 
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
 
 
 
RSUs granted vesting period
2 years 
 
 
Expiration term of options granted under Employee Benefit Plans
7 years 
 
 
Employee Stock Plan, 2003 Plan |
Maximum
 
 
 
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
 
 
 
RSUs granted vesting period
4 years 
 
 
Expiration term of options granted under Employee Benefit Plans
10 years 
 
 
Directors Plan
 
 
 
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
 
 
 
Shares reserved for future issuance under Employee Benefit Plans (in shares)
1,200,000 
 
 
Share based compensation, expiration date
Nov. 09, 2019 
 
 
Summary of Share-Based Compensation Expense (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
 
 
 
Share-based compensation expense
$ 3,586 
$ 2,863 
$ 2,253 
Cost of sales
 
 
 
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
 
 
 
Share-based compensation expense
575 
450 
350 
Research and Development
 
 
 
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
 
 
 
Share-based compensation expense
1,536 
1,216 
917 
Selling, General and Administrative
 
 
 
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
 
 
 
Share-based compensation expense
$ 1,475 
$ 1,197 
$ 986 
Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Store
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
May 18, 2015
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Mar. 6, 2014
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Aug. 24, 2012
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Sep. 26, 2015
Indemnification Agreement
Sep. 27, 2014
Indemnification Agreement
Sep. 26, 2015
Major Facility Lease
Maximum
Sep. 26, 2015
Retail Space Lease
Sep. 26, 2015
Retail Space Lease
Minimum
Sep. 26, 2015
Retail Space Lease
Maximum
Sep. 26, 2015
Retail Space Lease
Majority
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liability for infringement costs
 
 
 
 
 
 
$ 0 
$ 0 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchase commitments maximum period
150 days 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Term of leases
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10 years 
 
5 years 
20 years 
10 years 
Number of retail stores
463 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases
6,271,000,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3,600,000,000 
 
 
 
Rent expense under cancelable and noncancelable operating leases
794,000,000 
717,000,000 
645,000,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding off-balance sheet third party manufacturing commitments and component purchase commitments
29,500,000,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Additional off-balance sheet obligations
7,300,000,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Result of legal proceedings
 
 
 
 
 
1,050,000,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Award from legal proceeding
 
 
 
$ 548,000,000 
$ 930,000,000 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Future Minimum Lease Payments under Noncancelable Operating Leases (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Sep. 26, 2015
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
 
2016
$ 772 
2017
774 
2018
744 
2019
715 
2020
674 
Thereafter
2,592 
Total
$ 6,271 
Summary Information by Operating Segment (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Jun. 27, 2015
Mar. 28, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Sep. 27, 2014
Jun. 28, 2014
Mar. 29, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
$ 51,501 
$ 49,605 
$ 58,010 
$ 74,599 
$ 42,123 
$ 37,432 
$ 45,646 
$ 57,594 
$ 233,715 
$ 182,795 
$ 170,910 
Operating income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
71,230 
52,503 
48,999 
Americas
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
93,864 
80,095 
77,093 
Operating income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
31,186 
26,158 
24,829 
Europe
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
50,337 
44,285 
40,980 
Operating income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
16,527 
14,434 
12,767 
Greater China
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
58,715 
31,853 
27,016 
Operating income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
23,002 
11,039 
8,499 
Japan
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15,706 
15,314 
13,782 
Operating income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7,617 
6,904 
6,668 
Rest of Asia Pacific
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15,093 
11,248 
12,039 
Operating income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$ 5,518 
$ 3,674 
$ 3,762 
Reconciliation of Segment Operating Income to Consolidated Statements of Operations (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
 
 
 
Operating income
$ 71,230 
$ 52,503 
$ 48,999 
Research and development expense
(8,067)
(6,041)
(4,475)
Operating Segments
 
 
 
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
 
 
 
Operating income
83,850 
62,209 
56,525 
Segment Reconciling Items
 
 
 
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
 
 
 
Research and development expense
(8,067)
(6,041)
(4,475)
Corporate Non-Segment
 
 
 
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
 
 
 
Other corporate expenses, net
$ (4,553)
$ (3,665)
$ (3,051)
Segment Information and Geographic Data - Additional Information (Detail)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
 
Countries representing greater than 10% of net sales
The U.S. and China were the only countries that accounted for more than 10% of the Company's net sales in 2015, 2014 and 2013 
Customers representing greater than 10% of net sales
No single customer that accounted for more than 10% of net sales in 2015, 2014 or 2013 
Net Sales (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Jun. 27, 2015
Mar. 28, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Sep. 27, 2014
Jun. 28, 2014
Mar. 29, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
$ 51,501 
$ 49,605 
$ 58,010 
$ 74,599 
$ 42,123 
$ 37,432 
$ 45,646 
$ 57,594 
$ 233,715 
$ 182,795 
$ 170,910 
U.S.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
81,732 
68,909 
66,197 
CHINA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
56,547 1
30,638 1
25,946 1
Other countries
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$ 95,436 
$ 83,248 
$ 78,767 
Long-Lived Assets (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
 
 
Long-lived assets
$ 23,784 
$ 21,502 
U.S.
 
 
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
 
 
Long-lived assets
12,022 
9,108 
CHINA
 
 
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
 
 
Long-lived assets
8,722 1
9,477 1
Other countries
 
 
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
 
 
Long-lived assets
$ 3,040 
$ 2,917 
Net Sales by Product (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Jun. 27, 2015
Mar. 28, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Sep. 27, 2014
Jun. 28, 2014
Mar. 29, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
$ 51,501 
$ 49,605 
$ 58,010 
$ 74,599 
$ 42,123 
$ 37,432 
$ 45,646 
$ 57,594 
$ 233,715 
$ 182,795 
$ 170,910 
iPhone
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
155,041 1
101,991 1
91,279 1
iPad
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
23,227 1
30,283 1
31,980 1
Mac
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
25,471 1
24,079 1
21,483 1
Services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
19,909 2
18,063 2
16,051 2
Other Products
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$ 10,067 1 3
$ 8,379 1 3
$ 10,117 1 3
Summary of Quarterly Financial Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2015
Jun. 27, 2015
Mar. 28, 2015
Dec. 27, 2014
Sep. 27, 2014
Jun. 28, 2014
Mar. 29, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Sep. 26, 2015
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Selected Quarterly Financial Information [Abstract]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
$ 51,501 
$ 49,605 
$ 58,010 
$ 74,599 
$ 42,123 
$ 37,432 
$ 45,646 
$ 57,594 
$ 233,715 
$ 182,795 
$ 170,910 
Gross margin
20,548 
19,681 
23,656 
29,741 
16,009 
14,735 
17,947 
21,846 
93,626 
70,537 
64,304 
Net income
$ 11,124 
$ 10,677 
$ 13,569 
$ 18,024 
$ 8,467 
$ 7,748 
$ 10,223 
$ 13,072 
$ 53,394 
$ 39,510 
$ 37,037 
Earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$ 1.97 1
$ 1.86 1
$ 2.34 1
$ 3.08 1
$ 1.43 1
$ 1.29 1
$ 1.67 1
$ 2.08 1
$ 9.28 
$ 6.49 
$ 5.72 
Diluted
$ 1.96 1
$ 1.85 1
$ 2.33 1
$ 3.06 1
$ 1.42 1
$ 1.28 1
$ 1.66 1
$ 2.07 1
$ 9.22 
$ 6.45 
$ 5.68