Apple today announced its third financial quarter results. Profits of the company rose a staggering 73 percent to $818 million, or $0.92 per diluted share, on sales of $5.41 billion.

The results compare to revenue of $4.37 billion and net quarterly profit of $472 million, or $.54 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 36.9 percent, up from 30.3 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 40 percent of the quarter’s revenue.

“We are very pleased to report strong financial results including cash flow from operations exceeding $1.2 billion for the quarter,” said Apple chief executive Peter Oppenheimer. “Looking ahead to the fourth fiscal quarter of 2007, we expect revenue of about $5.7 billion and earnings per diluted share of about $.65.”

During the quarter APple shifted 1,764,000 Macs representing a 33 percent increase year on year. Apple also sold 9,815,000 iPods during the quarter representing a 21 percent growth over the year-ago quarter.

“We’re thrilled to report the highest June quarter revenue and profit in Apple’s history, along with the highest quarterly Mac sales ever,” said Apple chief executive Steve Jobs. “iPhone is off to a great start — we hope to sell our one- millionth iPhone by the end of its first full quarter of sales — and our new product pipeline is very strong.”