Net income in the period that ended in March was $13.6 billion, or $2.33 a share, and revenue rose 27 percent to $58 billion, the Cupertino, California-based company said Monday. IPhone sales in greater China outpaced those in the U.S. for the first time, helped by the Chinese New Year celebration, Apple said.

Booming demand for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus is putting Apple on pace for its highest annual profit since 2012 -- a record -- and the company forecast sales in the current period that may exceed analysts’ estimates. That signals enduring demand for the larger-screened smartphones and optimism for the new Apple Watch, the company’s first new gadget under Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook.