Dell Reports Sales Surge on Continuing Personal Computer Demand

  • Fourth-quarter revenue and profit topped analysts’ estimates
  • Hardware maker’s server unit sales gained 3% to $4.4 billion
Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg
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Dell Technologies Inc. reported quarterly revenue that topped analysts’ estimates bolstered by continued strong demand for personal computers needed for work and study from home.

Sales rose 9% to $26.1 billion in the period that ended Jan. 29, the Round Rock, Texas-based company said Thursday in a statement. That compares with an average analyst estimate of $24.5 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Profit, excluding some items, was $2.70 a share. Analysts projected $2.14 a share.

Under Chief Executive Officer Michael Dell, the company is trying to reduce its dependence on one-time lower margin hardware sales and transform itself into a seller of subscription-based computer services. While that shift is ongoing, the company still gets about half of its revenue from sales of PCs to commercial and consumer customers.