Hewlett-Packard Company (HPQ) Q4 Earnings, What To Expect?

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Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ), which will report its fourth quarter results after the markets close today, is expected to post a lower profit. Analysts expect the PC maker to post earnings of $1.00 per share compared to $1.16 a year ago.

Revenue showing a declining trend

Over the last month, the consensus estimate for HP has fallen from $1.01, which is the same as it was three months ago. For the full year, analysts are expecting earnings of $3.55 per share. For the quarter, revenue for the PC maker is projected to fall 7% year-over-year to $27.91 billion compared to $29.96 billion last year. For full year, revenue is expected to come in at $111.15 billion.

In the last quarter, Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) posted earnings of 86 cents a share on revenues of $27.2 billion. Earnings were below the consensus estimate. In last four quarters, the revenue of the company has shown a declining trend with a 9% fall in the third quarter and a 10% year over year drop in the second quarter; 6% in the first quarter and 7% in the fourth quarter.

Weak PC demand a concern for Hewlett-Packard

The PC industry has been facing declining demand with the rise of smartphones and tablets. Tablets are expected to grab 50% of the PC market by next year, according to data from research firm Canalys.

During the quarter, Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) has taken various measures, including new products and services to reinvigorate its business lines, to stay on the growth track. However, weak enterprise demand and a slowing PC market remains a concern. Analysts expect such factors to continue troubling HP’s revenues across its business divisions.

HP may lower its outlook

Some of the analysts believe that the company will lower its outlook for the next fiscal year owing to weak a PC market, lukewarm demand for older business technology and slow growth in key markets including China.

At the analyst meeting in October, Hewlett-Packard revealed that it expects the decline in year-over-year revenue to be moderate in fiscal 2014 compared to fiscal 2013. Operating profit is expected to be flat, possibly up, year-over-year in fiscal 2014 as the company take measures to save on costs. Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) said that it expects diluted per-share earnings in the range of $2.85 to $3.05 for fiscal 2014.

Shares of the PC maker are trading down slightly, but in last 52 weeks the stock value has almost doubled.

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