Piper Jaffrey: 5 million Nanos in Q1


Forbes cites research firm Piper Jaffrey numbers on likely iPod Nano sales numbers for the Xmas quarter in this: and they're huge.

Five million Nano units is Piper's prediction for Apple's fiscal Q1 2006 (the Xmas 2005 quarter). Piper rates AAPL as an 'outperform', recommending a 'buy' on the stock and has raised its estimates, given already-strong Nano demand in the most recent quarter. Apple will report its Q4 2005 figures this week.

Piper is more bullish than other research firms, boosting its fiscal 2005 estimate to a smidgen over $14 billion in sales, whereas the market consensus is around $13.9 billion. Although Piper expects Apple to ship 'only' around 850,000 Nanos in Q4, it tips 5 million units in Q1 2006.

Piper has set a $60 price target on AAPL.