Microsoft, the world’s largest software maker, posted a second-quarter profit Thursday that surpassed analysts’ estimates on sales of its Xbox 360 game console and Windows programs for personal computers.
Net income in the period ended Dec. 31 rose 79 percent to $4.71 billion, or 50 cents a share, from $2.63 billion, or 26 cents, a year earlier, the company said. That beat the 46-cent average of estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Sales climbed 30 percent to $16.4 billion.
PC sales rose more than Microsoft forecast, bolstering orders for Windows and Office programs. Holiday purchases of the Xbox 360 also fueled revenue as shoppers bought the console to play the «Halo 3» shooting game, unavailable on rival systems like Nintendo’ Wii.
«The games division is doing really well,» said Avi Cohen, head of research at the Boston research firm Avian Securities. «They are competing well against the Wii and ‘Halo’ is certainly helping.»
In second quarter last year, Microsoft deferred $1.64 billion in sales, cutting revenue and profit.
Microsoft said profit in the year ending June 30 will be $1.85 to $1.88 a share on sales of $59.9 billion to $60.5 billion. Analysts on average anticipated profit of $1.81 and sales of $59.4 billion, according to a Bloomberg survey. Microsoft had previously forecast profit of $1.78 to $1.81 on sales of $58.8 billion to $59.7 billion.
The company has lined up exclusive titles like «Halo 3» and «Mass Effect» to win users from Nintendo and Sony.
«Halo 3» became the best-selling game in the United States last year after its Sept. 25 debut. Microsoft persuaded 10,000 stores to stay open until midnight the first day to sell «Halo 3,» which brought in more revenue in its first 24 hours than the final Harry Potter novel.
In the Windows business, the company gained by persuading PC makers to install more expensive versions of its Vista operating system on machines. Microsoft also has lifted sales in countries like China, India, Russia and Brazil after fighting piracy there.
Sun Micro profit rises
Sun Microsystems, the world’s fourth-largest server-computer maker, posted higher quarterly profit on Thursday near the top end of its preliminary range, Reuters reported from San Francisco.
Net income rose to $260 million for Sun’s fiscal 2008 second quarter ended Dec. 30, from $133 million a year earlier. Revenue increased to $3.62 billion from $3.57 billion.
Fuente: Reuters
