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Investors Business Daily
Investors Business Daily
Technology
PATRICK SEITZ

PC Maker HP Tops Earnings Target, Gives Upbeat Profit Outlook

Personal computer and printer maker HP late Tuesday edged above Wall Street's earnings target but missed views on sales for its fiscal first quarter. However, it offered a higher outlook for earnings in the current quarter and full year. HPQ stock rose in extended trading.

The Palo Alto, Calif.-based company earned an adjusted 75 cents a share on sales of $13.83 billion in the quarter ended Jan. 31. Analysts polled by FactSet had expected HP earnings of 74 cents a share on sales of $14.1 billion. On a year-over-year basis, HP earnings dropped 32% while sales fell 19% amid weak demand for new PCs.

In its fiscal first quarter, HP's personal computer sales fell 24% year over year to $9.2 billion. Sales in its printing division slipped 5% to $4.6 billion.

HP delivered on adjusted earnings "despite industrywide headwinds," thanks to "disciplined execution," Chief Executive Enrique Lores said in a news release.

HPQ Stock Rises After Report

In after-hours trading on the stock market today, HPQ stock climbed 3% to 30.40. During the regular session Tuesday, HPQ stock advanced 0.4% to close at 29.52.

For the current quarter, HP forecast adjusted earnings of 78 cents a share, based on the midpoint of its outlook. Wall Street had predicted earnings of 76 cents a share for the fiscal second quarter.

For the full year ahead, HP expects to earn an adjusted $3.20 to $3.60 a share. The midpoint of $3.40 is above the analyst estimates for $3.30.

HPQ stock ranks sixth out of 14 stocks in IBD's Computer Hardware & Peripherals industry group, according to IBD Stock Checkup. But it has a subpar IBD Composite Rating of 47 out of 99. The Composite Rating scores a stock's key growth metrics against all other stocks regardless of industry group.

Follow Patrick Seitz on Twitter at @IBD_PSeitz for more stories on consumer technology, software and semiconductor stocks.

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