Dell's Q4 results expected to exceed estimates

On Friday, Dell raised expectations when it announced new estimates for its fourth quarterly results.

Strong consumer-driven sales, it is believed, are responsible for this improvement on revenue and earnings targets.

Dell estimates fiscal fourth quarter earnings of 17 cents a share (up one cent a share from its previous estimation) on revenues of $ 8bn (originally forecasted at $ 7.6bn).

Dell also believes its consumer business, which achieved a 40% growth in product shipments in the third quarter, will see further growth of 50% in this fourth quarter.

Contrary to overall industry shipment figures (which declined by nearly 7%), Dell’s worldwide shipments in the fourth quarter will be up at a strong double-digit rate.

It was the only major PC vendor to increase market share in 2001 according to these preliminary shipment estimates.

The company grew 18.3%, to move past Compaq and become the world’s largest PC shipper (according to research house Gartner Dataquest).

These improvements are reflected in industry analysts’ positive estimations of Dell’s global market position at an approximate 13.3 % share, with a 27 % market share in the United States.

Dell’s fourth quarter will end Friday, February 1 and results will officially be reported on February 14.

Dell’s overall revenue for the past four quarters totalled $ 31.8bn.