The company’s chief financial officer also warned the current tough trading environment, which saw a solid performance from Microsoft during its third quarter – announced yesterday – could last into Microsoft’s forthcoming new fiscal year. Fiscal 2004 begins this summer.
John Connors made the predictions during a conference call to present Microsoft’s third-quarter results. Microsoft often uses such calls to give its predictions for growth in the PC industry.
We continue to operate in a tough environment, Connors said yesterday. We believe the factors that have affected the business environment this year will remain for this [fourth] quarter and possibly the coming year. He listed these factors as fragile consumer spending and global economic conditions.
For the three-month period to March 31, Microsoft reported a 2% growth in net income to $2.79bn on revenue that increased 8.1% to $7.83bn. Earnings per diluted share increased one cent to $0.26.
For the nine-month period, net income grew 28% to $8.07bn following a 14% increase in revenue to $24.12bn. Earnings per diluted share for the period are $0.74, up from $0.54.
Source: Computerwire
