You can always count on DIGITIMES to churn out a constant stream of speculative fodder for the Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) rumor mill, even if it sometimes tends to lose its mind. Other times, the Taiwanese publication simply reiterates what investors already know. Occasionally — just occasionally — it might get it right.
DIGITIMES‘ newest rumor falls into the category of restating known information. The fact that old info is making the rounds isn’t stopping the selling pressure today, as shares are resumed their daily underperformance, down 1% shortly after the market opened flat. But then again, that’s never stopped the bears before, like when The Wall Street Journal reported on iPhone component cuts in January, triggering a 4% sell-off.
According to DIGITIMES, the iPad maker is adjusting its unit estimates for 2013 to reflect changing consumer trends toward smaller form factors. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is now reportedly targeting 33 million iPads and 55 million iPad Minis this year (88 million total), down from the previous plan to ship 60 million iPads and 40 million iPad Minis in 2013 (100 million total).
Those estimates just happen to match up exactly with what NPD DisplaySearch said last week. Exactly.
Source: NPD DisplaySearch.
Unsurprisingly, full-sized iPad panel suppliers will suffer from the changes, while smaller iPad Mini panel makers will get a lift in units. DIGITIMES says that LG Display Co Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE:LPL) is one of 9.7-inch panel vendors that will take a hit, which directly contradicts a separate DIGITIMES report from November that said LG Display was the dominant panel vendor for the iPad Mini. AU Optronics Corp. (ADR) (NYSE:AUO) is said to benefit as a supplier of the smaller panels.
Back in October, NPD DisplaySearch had pegged these two companies as the display suppliers for the smaller tablet, with LG Display doing most of the heavy lifting. AU Optronics is also rumored to be in the process of manufacturing Retina panels for the second-generation iPad Mini with the same 2,048 x 1,536 resolution as the larger model.
AU Optronics has supposedly seen tablet panel shipments jump from under 1 million per month to roughly 1.7 million per month on the back of rising iPad Mini demand. Meanwhile, LG Display is also said to be increasing shipments after a drop in January.
This just in: the iPad Mini is popular.
The article Another Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) Rumor We Already Knew originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Evan Niu, CFA, owns shares of Apple. The Motley Fool recommends Apple. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL).
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