InfoAnda - Microsoft seals record year, stock still stuck |

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

U.S. denies visas to Iran officials for U.N. meeting: report | | 18 November 2012
Bharti shares rise as MTN talks deadline looms | 30 September 2009
Syria, Iraq in talks to ease tension over US raid | 2 November 2008

Japan, SKorea keep rates steady, see some hope | 11 August 2009

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Microsoft seals record year, stock still stuck |

Edition: U.S. Article Comments (0) Follow Reuters Facebook Twitter RSS YouTube Read Universal pulls plug on Stephen King's "The Dark Tower" 18 Jul 2011 News of the World Whisteblower Found Dead 18 Jul 2011 Minnesota grinds budget details to end shutdown 18 Jul 2011 Special report: Banks continue robo-signing 18 Jul 2011 Perry signs bill allowing Texas healthcare "compact" 18 Jul 2011 Discussed 101 Obama asks lawmakers to gauge support for debt deal 60 Fallback plan gains momentum in debt talks 60 Obama eyes more deficit talks with no deal in sight Watched Flying sphere goes where man fears to tread Thu, Jul 14 2011 Pakistan Taliban releases video of mass execution Mon, Jul 18 2011 Japan's winning team returns home Mon, Jul 18 2011 Microsoft seals record year, stock still stuck Tweet Share this Email Print Related News IBM's services signings surge, stock rises Mon, Jul 18 2011 Google smashes Street expectations, shares surge Thu, Jul 14 2011 JPMorgan profit rises, loan book grows Thu, Jul 14 2011 Apple chief patent lawyer leaving: sources Tue, Jul 12 2011 RIM could do better as two businesses: analyst Tue, Jul 12 2011 Analysis & Opinion Tale of two defendants: HTC, Nokia fates diverged in Apple case How the cloud changed venture capitalism Related Topics Technology » Media » iPad » The Microsoft logo hangs from a window during the grand opening of Microsoft's first retail store in Scottsdale, Arizona October 22, 2009. Credit: Reuters/Joshua Lott By Bill Rigby SEATTLE | Mon Jul 18, 2011 8:46pm EDT SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp is set to post a 9 percent jump in fiscal fourth-quarter profit on Thursday, putting the cap on its best financial year ever, but investors are fidgety over flagging computer sales and a gnawing feeling that the tech pioneer will never recapture old growth rates. The shares of the world's largest software company have risen 10 percent over the past month -- outpacing the tech-heavy Nasdaq -- but still are perched in the mid-$20 range, a level they have circled since 1998, adjusted for splits. "There's just not enough growth there to make people interested," said Michael Yoshikami, Chief Executive of fund manager YCMNET Advisors. "It's the Johnson & Johnson of technology. A large, cash flow-oriented company, but explosive growth has probably passed it by the wayside." Microsoft's fourth-quarter sales are expected to push annual revenue close to $70 billion for the first time on Thursday, slightly more than Apple Inc's last fiscal year. It is also on track for a best-ever $22 billion in net profit for the 2011 fiscal year, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Microsoft had net income of $18.76 billion last year . But records are not enough for investors, who are more focused on a post-PC future driven by Internet-focused services and mobile gadgets from Apple, Google Inc and Facebook. Analysts expect Apple's revenue to be twice Microsoft's by fiscal 2014, from relative parity now. (For an interactive graphic comparing major tech firms, click on r.reuters.com/nuw62s) Microsoft's sales grew 12-fold between 1991 and 2000, whereas they grew by only two and a half times between 2001 and 2010. "We have concerns about Microsoft," said Bruce Ventimiglia, Chief Executive Officer at fund manager Saratoga Capital Management. "As we look at Google and others attacking their business lines, our view over the long run is that it's going to erode margins. Microsoft is not moving as forcefully in the tech space as we'd like to see." PC SALES WOBBLY Microsoft's most immediate problem is faltering growth in sales of PCs, which generally come pre-loaded with the Windows operating system and are the surest guide to the company's financial health. PC sales grew only 2.3 percent in the second quarter of 2011, according to tech research firm Gartner, well below its earlier projection for 6.7 percent growth, as economic uncertainty hangs over consumers and Apple's iPad and other tablets take off. Microsoft said last week it has now sold more than 400 million Windows licenses since launch in October 2009, up from 350 million three months ago. That suggests 50 million Windows sales in the quarter, about the number it sold the quarter before that. Windows 7, while still popular with consumers, has already become old news for investors eyeing 'Windows 8' -- the provisional name for the next tablet-friendly operating system expected late next year. Microsoft has been showing off early prototypes of the new system -- which borrow the look and feel from its mobile platform -- but is not expected to reveal any new details until its annual developer conference in September. SHAREHOLDER PROTESTS But some are tired of waiting. In May, outspoken hedge fund manager and long-time Microsoft shareholder David Einhorn called for the removal of Chief Executive Steve Ballmer and a sale of its money-losing online services unit to revive the stock. In the last week, a June-dated letter from an anonymous investor to Microsoft's lead independent director has been widely circulated, calling for the company to issue $40 billion of debt to fund a massive share buyback and to direct all its domestic cash flow toward paying dividends. Microsoft, which has not always had easy relations with investors, has shown no indication it is considering any of these courses of action. Ballmer and his executives say they are making the right moves -- cutting a deal to put Microsoft software on Nokia phones, agreeing to buy online video-chat company Skype, making the most of its small investment in Facebook, while hacking away at Google with its Bing search engine. The company is hoping its efforts will ultimately create a coherent, Internet-compatible whole, spanning operating systems to business software to phones and tablets. Investors are not buying it so far. The stock now trades at 9.7 times analysts' estimates of earnings for the next 12 months, according to StarMine data, which places greater weight on more accurate analysts. That is around the lowest it has ever been, and lags Apple at 12.6 times and Google at 15.3 times. "Microsoft certainly has a lot of money and some smart people, but we need to see their investment prowess pay off before we can get excited about it," said Ventimiglia at Saratoga Capital Management. Analysts expect fiscal fourth quarter earnings per share for Microsoft of 58 cents, up from 51 cents a share in the year ago period. They expect fourth quarter sales of $17.2 bln, up from $16 bln a year ago. (Reporting by Bill Rigby; editing by Carol Bishopric) Technology Media iPad Related Quotes and News Company Price Related News Tweet this Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/ Comments (0) Be the first to comment on reuters.com. Add yours using the box above. Social Stream (What's this?) © Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters Editorial Editions: Africa Arabic Argentina Brazil Canada China France Germany India Italy Japan Latin America Mexico Russia Spain United Kingdom United States Reuters Contact Us Advertise With Us Help Journalism Handbook Archive Site Index Video Index Reader Feedback Mobile Newsletters RSS Podcasts Widgets Your View Analyst Research Thomson Reuters Copyright Disclaimer Privacy Professional Products Professional Products Support Financial Products About Thomson Reuters Careers Online Products Acquisitions Monthly Buyouts Venture Capital Journal International Financing Review Project Finance International PEhub.com PE Week FindLaw Super Lawyers Attorney Rating Service Reuters on Facebook Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.

Other News on Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Manuel overdrive: Phillies headed toward 100-win mark
New Republican budget plan seeks deeper cuts as deficit deadline approaches
Study: Almost half of mild Alzheimer's patients suffer from apathy and depression
Charlie Sheen returns to television with "Anger Management"
Wendy Williams to embark on "Say It Like You Mean It" tour
Dispute between Somali leaders delays cabinet nominations
Second top cop resigns in U.K. phone hacking scandal
Chinese police, rioters clash in Xinjiang; 4 killed
Bangladesh teacher fired in Mohammed row
On financial thin ice: Maple Leafs practice facility taken over by city
U.S. urges Gaddafi to go as rebels claim oil town |
Assad loyalists kill 10 in attacks in Homs |
Springsteen surprises fans during Clemons Tribute
In liberalized Greek workplace, dancers swirl freely |
Birth Control Without Copays Could Become Mandatory
Egyptian PM taken to hospital, new cabinet delayed |
Health Law Bolsters Funding For In-School Clinics
Astronauts bid space station goodbye
Beckham, Donovan, Henry highlight MLS All-Star roster
China's heir apparent pledges tough line on Tibet |
Lily Allen's store is doing fine despite reports
China blames terrorists for attack in Xinjiang: report |
Betty White is latest to be invited to Marine Corps Ball
Bette Midler accuses Lady Gaga of stealing routine
Cabrera, Huff lead Indians past Twins in opener of doubleheader
Pakistani workers of U.S. aid agency feared kidnapped |
IBM's services signings surge, stock rises |
Apple set to wow investors, outlook eyed |
Cisco to cut workforce by 15 percent, sell factory to Hon Hai |
China Web users hit 485 million |
Hackers breach Murdoch's Sun newspaper website |
Microsoft seals record year, stock still stuck |
China's Baidu signs music deal with studios, ends legal wrangle |
Kodak did not infringe on Apple patents, says ITC |
Chip outlook down on economy, PC sales, inventories |
EBay's marketplace turnaround gains momentum |
Charlie Sheen gets his Anger Management on TV show |
Harry Potter debut box office inches higher |
Handover of key city tests Afghan forces amid rising violence |
Israeli navy seizes Gaza-bound yacht |
Iran says installing new nuclear centrifuges |
U.N. set to declare famine in parts of Somalia |
NGOs in standoff over Hamas audit demand
Tunisia gas pipe hit by blast but still working |
Mets star shortstop Jose Reyes returns after stint on 15-day DL
Peru's Congress approves bill to pay land bonds |
Great trek for water in the south
Afghan, Pakistan presidents meet amid new tensions |
Michelle Obama to appear on 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition'
Egypt cabinet to be sworn in on PM's return: sources |
Hawass is gone, leaving Egyptian antiquities in crisis
Egyptian women demand greater role in government
Emma Watson says she'll return to Brown University
'Glee' to release first live album
Nepal to determine height of Mt. Everest on its own
Ready for some football? NFL, players close to new deal
Frustrated judge pushes Google digital book deal |
Basic Nokia phones more profitable than smartphones |
Murdoch newspapers tighten computer security after hack |
FDA plans oversight of some mobile medical apps |
Adele up against two past winners for Mercury Prize |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01