PC sales bolster Microsoft profits
C|Net | at | by Mike
Amid stronger-than-expected consumer PC sales, Microsoft on Thursday reported earnings that narrowly topped expectations as sales rose 6 percent from a year ago.
The Redmond, Wash.-based company said it earned $2.6 billion, or 24 cents per share, on revenue of $8.2 billion for the three months ended Sept. 30. That compares with earnings of $2 billion, or 19 cents per share, on revenue of $7.75 billion for the same quarter a year ago. The first-quarter figures include 6 cents per share in charges related to the company's decision to expense the cost of granting stock options to employees, while the year-ago figures include 3 cents per share in asset-impairment charges and 6 cents per share in stock compensation charges.