BusinessWeek reports:

Apple’s fiscal third-quarter earnings report, due after markets close on July 22, will likely surpass Wall Street analysts’ expectations, advancing the argument made by chipmaker Intel this month that spending on computer equipment is snapping back.

New market research forecasting record third-quarter Macintosh sales, combined with Apple historical proclivity toward issuing conservative guidance for its upcoming quarters, are leading Wall Street analysts to look for a surprisingly strong report.

For the third quarter ended June 27, analysts expect Apple to report sales of $8.2 billion and earnings of $1.16 per share. A year ago, Apple reported $7.5 billion in sales and $1.08 in per-share profit.

A strong report would make Apple the latest tech company to exhibit strength that could point to a recovery in technology spending, especially among consumers.

Tags: Apple, BusinessWeek, Intel, Macintosh, Wall Street, recession