Apple posted record revenue and profits Tuesday, a day after the company announced that its iconic founder and chief executive Steve Jobs was taking a medical leave of absence for unspecified health problems.

The health of the company however has never seemed brighter. Apple said it had record revenue of $26.74 billion in the fourth quarter, which encompasses the crucial holiday season, compared to $15.68 billion in revenue a year earlier. Profits jumped from $3.38 billion to $6 billion, Apple said.

The company sold 16.24 million iPhones in the quarter, representing 86 percent unit growth over the year-ago quarter. Apple sold 19.45 million iPods during the quarter, representing a seven percent unit decline from the year-ago quarter.

It also sold 7.33 million iPads during the quarter. Apple sold 4.13 million Macs during the quarter, a 23 percent unit increase over the year-ago quarter.

‘Looking ahead to the second fiscal quarter of 2011, we expect revenue of about $22 billion.’ said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s chief financial officer.