HP Revenue Tops Estimates on Personal Systems Business

HP's quarterly revenue beat analysts' estimates on Thursday, driven by growth in its personal systems business that sells notebooks and desktops and the acquisition of Samsung's printer business.

Shares of HP, which houses the hardware business of former Hewlett-Packard Co, were marginally up in extended trading.

The personal systems business, which accounts for more than 60 percent of HP's total revenue, rose 11 percent to $10.06 billion, beating analysts' average estimate of $9.78 billion, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

"On the PC side, we are impressed, particularly amidst a backdrop of reported 'CPU shortages' that are already well known," said David Ryzhik, an analyst with Susquehanna Financial Group.

The company had the second position in worldwide PC shipments in the third quarter with a 22.8 percent market share, down from 23.9 percent in the preceding quarter, according to research firm International Data Corp's data.

HP said revenue from its printing business rose 9.1 percent to $5.30 billion, slightly short of analysts' estimate of $5.31 billion.

The company completed the acquisition of Samsung Electronics Co's printer business for $1.05 billion in November 2017 as a part of its efforts to strengthen the sluggish printer and copier business.

HP said, in a post earnings call with analysts, it has not considered any impact from unannounced tariffs or any significant demand changes that may result from an increase in geopolitical uncertainties. The Palo Alto, California-based company said it would consider price increases to respond to tariffs.

"We are working through a variety of mitigation items on the tariffs, pricing included to be one of the ways we mitigate," said Chief Financial Officer Steve Fieler during the call.

The company forecast current-quarter adjusted profit of 50 cents to 53 cents per share. Analysts expected a profit of 52 cents per share.

Net earnings rose to $1.45 billion, or 91 cents per share, in the fourth quarter ended Oct. 31, from $660 million, or 39 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding items, the company earned 54 cents per share, in line with average analyst estimates.

The company said its fourth-quarter adjusted earnings and profit exclude after-tax adjustments of $586 million, or 37 cents per share, related to restructuring and other charges and acquisition-related charges.

Net revenue rose 10.3 percent $15.37 billion. Analysts on an average had expected revenue of $15.1 billion.

© Thomson Reuters 2018