Monday May 8, 4:41 pm ET Computer Maker Dell Warns 1st-Quarter Earnings Will Miss Mark
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Computer maker Dell Inc. said Monday first-quarter results will miss earnings targets, blaming the shortfall on "pricing decisions." The Round Rock, Texas-based company said it expects to earn 33 cents per share on revenue of about $14.2 billion, compared with analysts' average estimate of 38 cents per share on revenue of $14.52 billion.
Dell, which sells computers directly to consumers and is the world's largest PC maker, previously forecast a profit ranging from 36 cents to 38 cents per share, including stock-option costs of 3 cents, on revenue of $14.2 billion to $14.6 billion.
The shortfall from the previous guidance was driven primarily by pricing decisions in the second half of the quarter that the company expects will accelerate revenue growth in the future, Dell said.
"During the first quarter, we continued to execute on our strategy to reinvigorate growth by making investments in our support infrastructure and product quality and by accelerating pricing adjustments," said Kevin Rollins, Dell's chief executive.
Dell will report first-quarter earnings on May 18.
Dell shares fell 5.6 percent, or $1.49, on news of the revised guidance in late-session trade. Earlier, the stock rose 75 cents, or almost 3 percent, to close at $26.43 on the Nasdaq Stock Market.