Apple (NASDAQ: APPL) has announced its FY12 financials for the twelve months ending 29 September 2012.

Total sales were $156.6 billion, up 45 percent year-on-year.

Net income was $41.7 billion, up 61 percent.

The company also announced its first dividend of $2.65 per share, which will be payable to people owning Apple shares on 12 November.

Big bang

Apple sold 26.9 million iPhones during Q4, up 58 percent year-on-year, and 14 million iPads, up 26 percent from 12 months ago, but down 18 percent compared to FY12 Q3.

CEO Tim Cook put this down to 'seasonal slowing' in educational cycles

It sold 5.3 million iPods (including iPod touch), a 19 percent unit decline.

The company's gross margin was 40.0 percent compared to 40.3 percent a year ago, with international sales accounting for 60 percent of Q4 revenue.

Cash up

In terms of its fourth quarter (the three months ending 29 September), Apple's total sales were $36 billion, up 27 percent year-on-year.

Net income was $8.2 billion, up 24 percent.

The company ended the period with cash, cash equivalents and short term securities worth $29 billion. It has an additional $92 billion in long-term marketable securities.

[source: Apple]