The PC maker reported fourth-quarter revenue of $13.4 billion Thursday, a 16 percent drop from $15.9 billion reported the same quarter a year ago. Dell's profit for the quarter totaled $351 million, or 18 cents per share, compared to $671 million and 31 cents per share the year before. That's nearly a 48 percent drop in profit. Analysts had been anticipating earnings per share of 26 cents.
Dell had reported last month it would be forced to take a pre-tax charge of $280 million, or 11 cents per share, related to cost-cutting and restructuring measures taken during the quarter.
The company continued to cite the "challenging" global environment and the reduction in IT spending by large corporate customers, a segment in which Dell is heavily invested.
Dell net profit drops 48 percent
Posted on Friday, February 27 2009 @ 19:28 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck