In the recent June quarter, Apple’s R&D expenses surpassed $2 billion in a quarterly period for the first time. R&D expenses rose nearly 27% year-over-year in the June quarter and were 72% higher than in the corresponding quarter two years ago.
In the first nine months of the current fiscal year, Apple has spent $5.847 billion on research and development, nearly reaching the $6.041 billion spent in all of FY2014. The company is on track to spend in the range of $8 billion on R&D expenses in FY2015, exceeding the prior year’s investment by 30% or more. R&D expenses reached over 4% of reported revenue in the second half of FY2014 and may again reach that level of revenue consumption in the second half of FY2015. Over the first nine months of the current fiscal year, revenue has risen by 30% while R&D expenses have risen by 34% during the period.
Rising R&D expenses suggest increasing investment by management in the development of new products and services as well as ongoing development of the company’s existing product and service lines.
