J.P. Morgan analyst raises iPod forecast

In addition to raising first-quarter estimates on Apple to earnings of 49 cents a share on $3.49 billion in revenue, J.P. Morgan analyst Bill Shope today increased his iPod shipment forecast to 4.5 million units from 4.06 million. Shope estimates shipments of 1.6 million iPod minis for the quarter. “We expect Apple to unveil a low-cost, flash-based iPod, which could dramatically expand the company’s available market opportunity,” Shope said in a research note to clients. “The potential launch of a new, low-cost iMac could represent a significant positive catalyst as well.”