(Reuters) – Apple Inc on Tuesday reported resilient iPhone gross sales within the face of waning international demand and promised $100 billion in extra inventory buybacks, reassuring buyers that its decade-old smartphone invention had life in it but.

Apple’s quarterly outcomes topped Wall Road forecasts, which dropped forward of the report on rising concern over the iPhone. The Cupertino, California-based firm additionally was extra optimistic concerning the present quarter than most monetary analysts, driving shares up three.6 p.c to $175.25 after hours.

Suppliers across the globe had warned of smartphone weak spot, taking part in into fears that the corporate recognized for popularizing private computer systems, tablets and smartphones had turn out to be too reliant on the iPhone.

Gross sales of 52.2 million iPhones towards a Wall Road goal of 52.three million was a consolation and up from 50.7 million final 12 months, based on knowledge from Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Apple purchased $23.5 billion of inventory within the March quarter, and stated it deliberate to hike its dividend 16 p.c, in contrast with a 10.5 p.c enhance final 12 months. Analysts imagine the heavy emphasis on buybacks will bolster share costs, however some buyers wished Apple had discovered completely different makes use of for the money.

“I’d hoped for extra on the dividend facet or perhaps a strategic funding,” stated Hal Eddins, chief economist for Apple shareholder Capital Funding Counsel. “I assume Apple can’t discover a strategic funding on the present costs that may transfer the needle for them. The $100 billion buyback is sweet for proper now but it surely’s not precisely seeking to the long run.”

The money Apple earmarked for inventory buybacks is about twice the $50 billion market capitalization of electrical automobile maker Tesla Inc.

Apple posted income for its March quarter of $61.1 billion, up from $52.9 billion final 12 months. Wall Road anticipated $60.eight billion, based on Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Common promoting costs for iPhones had been $728, in contrast with Wall Road expectations of $742. The determine is up greater than 10 p.c from $655 a 12 months in the past, suggesting Apple’s iPhone X, which begins at $999, has helped enhance costs.

Analysts had feared the excessive value was muting demand for the iPhone X, however Apple Chief Government Tim Prepare dinner stated it was the preferred iPhone mannequin each week within the March quarter.

“That is the primary cycle that we’ve ever had the place the highest of the road iPhone mannequin has additionally been the preferred,” Prepare dinner stated in the course of the firm’s earnings name.

“It’s a type of issues like when a staff wins the Tremendous Bowl, perhaps you need them to win by just a few extra factors. However it’s a Tremendous Bowl winner and that’s how we really feel about it.”

The iPhone X has formed as much as be “a superb, not an excellent product. There was a time previous to its introduction that buyers anticipated it to be an excellent product,” stated Thomas Forte, an analyst with D.A. Davidson Corporations.

“Now that we all know it’s a good product, as buyers have lowered expectations, that’s sufficient, in my opinion, for shares to go increased from present ranges.”

Constructive iPhone information boosted shares of chip suppliers.

Skyworks Options Inc rose 2.9 p.c, Broadcom Inc was up 2 p.c, whereas Cirrus Logic gained four.three p.c.

Apple additionally predicted income of $51.5 billion to $53.5 billion within the June quarter, forward of the $51.6 billion Wall Road anticipated as of Monday night, and the share repurchases within the March quarter drove Apple’s money web of debt down barely to $145 billion.

“We’re returning the money to buyers as we’ve got promised,” Chief Monetary Officer Luca Maestri advised Reuters in an interview.

Income had been $2.73 per share versus expectations of $2.68 per share, as of Monday, and up from $2.10 a 12 months in the past.

Apple’s companies enterprise, which incorporates Apple Music, the App Retailer and iCloud, posted $9.1 billion in income in contrast with expectations of $eight.three billion. Heading into earnings, buyers had been hopeful that progress in that section might assist offset the cooling international smartphone market.

Julie Ask, an analyst with Forrester, stated Apple’s companies section outcomes had been constructive however warned that Apple wanted to proceed to spice up subscriptions on its platforms, which reached 270 million customers within the March quarter and consists of individuals who subscribe to third-party apps on the iPhone in addition to Apple’s personal companies like iCloud.

“Apps are carrying most (companies income) proper now, however Apple must get to a spot the place it’s largely subscriptions and month-to-month charges and never simply one-off downloads,” Ask stated.

Apple historically updates its share buyback and dividend program every spring, and the $100 billion it added this 12 months compares with a rise of $50 billion final 12 months. (Graphic: Apple Buys Again Shares – reut.rs/2JIjkgo)

In February, Apple stated it deliberate to attract down its extra money, though Prepare dinner had downplayed the potential of a particular dividend.

However buyers have had issues round Apple due to brewing commerce tensions with China.

Larger China gross sales rose 21 p.c from a 12 months earlier, Apple’s finest progress fee there in 10 quarters, to $13.zero billion. Whereas there has not but been a tariff on gadgets comparable to Apple’s iPhone, Prepare dinner traveled final week to Washington to fulfill with U.S. President Donald Trump on the White Home to debate commerce issues.

“China solely wins if the U.S. wins and the U.S. solely wins if China wins,” Prepare dinner stated on the decision, when requested a few attainable commerce struggle. “I’m a giant believer that the 2 nations collectively can each win and develop the pie, not simply allocate it otherwise,” he stated.

Apple has been emphasizing its contributions to the U.S. financial system in latest months, outlining a $30 billion U.S. spending plan and highlighting the tens of billions of it spends annually with U.S.-based suppliers.

In latest months, Apple has been emphasizing the dimensions of its total person base, which incorporates used iPhones, moderately than focusing strictly on new gadget gross sales, an indication of the growing significance of earning profits off customers with out promoting them new .