Apple Inc. - AAPL STOCK NEWS

Apple announced that over 110 manufacturing partners are moving to 100% renewable energy, with nearly 8 gigawatts of clean energy planned. This initiative will avoid over 15 million metric tons of CO2e emissions annually, equivalent to removing 3.4 million cars from the road. Apple aims for carbon neutrality across its entire business by 2030 and has invested $4.7 billion in Green Bonds for environmental projects globally. Additionally, a major energy storage project in California will support renewable energy infrastructure, enhancing sustainability efforts.

Apple has announced its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC21) will be held online from June 7 to June 11, offering developers insights into iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. The event will include keynotes, online sessions, and 1:1 labs for developers to interact with Apple engineers. The Swift Student Challenge is also open for submissions until April 18, inviting young developers to showcase their coding skills. Additionally, Apple is committing $1 million to SJ Aspires, an initiative supporting education in underserved neighborhoods as part of its Racial Equity and Justice Initiative.

Apple has completed significant renewable energy projects as part of its $4.7 billion Green Bond initiative, aimed at reducing carbon emissions and benefiting local communities. In 2020, 17 projects funded will avoid 921,000 metric tons of carbon emissions annually, equivalent to removing 200,000 cars from the road. These projects will generate 1.2 gigawatts of renewable energy, with key contributions from Nevada, Illinois, Virginia, and Denmark. Apple plans to achieve carbon neutrality across its entire business by 2030, already being carbon neutral for its corporate operations.

Apple reported record revenue of $111.4 billion for Q1 fiscal 2021, marking a 21% year-over-year increase. Earnings per diluted share rose 35% to $1.68, with international sales contributing 64% of revenue. Driven by robust growth across all product categories, Apple achieved an operating cash flow of $38.8 billion and returned over $30 billion to shareholders. A cash dividend of $0.205 per share has been declared, payable on February 11, 2021.

Apple announced the transition of Dan Riccio to a new project role while promoting John Ternus to lead the Hardware Engineering team. Riccio has significantly contributed to product development since joining in 1998, overseeing innovations from iMac to 5G iPhones. Ternus, a veteran since 2001, has been instrumental in engineering key products like the AirPods and iPhone models. Both executives are expected to drive further innovations within Apple, as Riccio focuses on new ventures and Ternus leads hardware engineering operations.

Apple has launched Time to Walk, an innovative audio walking experience designed for Apple Watch and Fitness+ subscribers. This new feature encourages users to incorporate walking into their routines for health benefits. Each episode features influential guests sharing stories and music, enhancing the walking experience. The program includes a variety of guests like Dolly Parton, Draymond Green, Shawn Mendes, and Uzo Aduba, delivering inspiration through personal anecdotes. New episodes will be released weekly, and the service is included in Apple Fitness+ subscriptions, available for $9.99 per month or $79.99 annually.

Apple has announced the appointment of Monica Lozano to its board of directors. Lozano brings extensive leadership experience from the public and private sectors, with a focus on equity and opportunity. She previously served as CEO of La Opinión and is currently the CEO of College Futures Foundation, advocating for access to higher education. Apple CEO Tim Cook and Chairman Arthur Levinson expressed confidence in her potential to contribute positively to Apple’s growth and community efforts.

Apple announces the launch of Fitness+, a new fitness experience integrated with Apple Watch, set to debut on December 14. Offering studio-style workouts on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, Fitness+ features popular workout types such as HIIT, Strength, and Yoga. The app incorporates metrics from the Apple Watch for a personalized experience, including a Burn Bar for competition, and a recommendation engine for tailored workouts. Monthly subscriptions are priced at $9.99, with family sharing options available. Privacy is prioritized, with workout data stored securely.