Microsoft's Earnings

It seems the numbers are really good.

"This fiscal year is off to an outstanding start with the fastest revenue growth of any first quarter since 1999," said Chris Liddell, chief financial officer at Microsoft. "Operating income growth of over 30% also reflects our ability to translate revenue into profits while making strategic investments for the future."

The reported earnings of .45 cents a share and analysts were expecting .39 cents a share.  That's really good.

 Microsoft's businesses of Client, Microsoft Business Division, and Server and
Tools grew combined revenue in excess of 20%, and experienced robust demand for
Windows Vista, the 2007 Microsoft Office system, Windows Server, and SQL
Server.

  "Customer demand for Windows Vista this quarter continued to build with double-digit growth in multi-year agreements by businesses and with the vast majority of consumers purchasing premium editions," said Kevin Johnson, president of the Platform and Services Division at Microsoft.

  During the quarter, Microsoft's two consumer focused divisions passed milestones with the successful close of the company's largest ever acquisition, aQuantive, and Halo 3 achieving the biggest entertainment launch day in history.

  "Backed by an amazing product line-up, our sales force, marketing teams, and partners delivered another excellent quarter," said Kevin Turner, chief operating officer at Microsoft.

-SM

Wow.  They're up 12% in after hours trading.  I can't remember the last time Microsoft's stock moved like this.  It's encouraging.

I'm about 75% sure that it has something to do with them dumping $250 million on facebook

Cybermagellan wrote:

I'm about 75% sure that it has something to do with them dumping $250 million on facebook

That would have happened yesterday.

It's funny, it's like "investors" suddenly went:

"OMG, Microsoft is actually selling Vista?! Do you mean that all the doom&gloom reports we keep reading on /. and similia are not true? OMG BUYBUYBUY!!!111"

I honestly don't get the stock market.

Microsoft Reports 27% Revenue Growth; Fastest First Quarter Since 1999

MSFT share price is heading north after several years of stagnation.

Windows Vista, Microsoft Office system, Windows Server, and SQL Server all  had a fantastic first quarter.

The Entertainment and devices Division had $1.93 billion in revenue, up from $1.01 billion in the same quarter last year, I wonder how much was from sales of Halo 3?

Windows Mobile is now found on many more phones around the world, that was Steve Ballmer's message at CTIA on Tuesday.

PaoloM wrote:

I honestly don't get the stock market.

NOBODY gets the stock-market... that's the whole point.

If you got the stock market, you'd consistently make money from it.

Which would probably mean they banned you from trading on it or something. I guess you'd have to make the occasional deliberate mistake.

elmer wrote:



PaoloM wrote: I honestly don't get the stock market.

NOBODY gets the stock-market... that's the whole point.

And we use this nebulous, fickle institution to store our excess money...

The Stock Market is all about perceptions and expectations, I blame Microsoft PR for their stagnant stock price.