Good for Steve

Bloomberg has the story of Apple's fortunes:

Apple Inc. said profit rose 26 percent after sales of Macintosh computers reached a record and iPhone shipments surpassed 6 million units, sending the shares up 12 percent. Fourth-quarter earnings advanced to $1.14 billion, or $1.26 a share, Apple said in a statement. That beat the $1.11 a share estimated by analysts in a Bloomberg survey. Sales rose 27 percent to $7.9 billion in the three months ended Sept. 27.
Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs updated the iPhone in July to support faster networks and expanded distribution to more than 50 countries, helping Apple take sales from Research In Motion Ltd. Jobs said the economic slowdown presents an 'extraordinary opportunity'' for companies with cash, helping investors look past a forecast that missed estimates.
"I still fully expect the company to gain share even in this turbulent economy,'' said Jim Grossman, an analyst at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans in Appleton, Wisconsin, which owns Apple shares. Jobs's comments on the call, his first appearance since at least 2000, also reassured investors, Grossman said. Apple rose $10.58 to $102.07 in extended trading after closing at $91.49 on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The shares have lost 54 percent this year.
Apple shares slid 32 percent last quarter, their worst performance since 2001, on concern U.S. consumers will spend less as jobs become scarcer and house prices drop. The holiday season is one of Apple's two biggest sales periods, along with the back-to-school quarter that ended in September.

Rico says he's still only got a couple shares, but every dollar helps...