Oracle Tuesday that its fourth-quarter net income rose 15 percent to US$990 million, compared with $858 million during the same quarter a year earlier.
Earnings per share rose to 19 cents from 16 cents a year earlier. In a statement released after the close of the U.S. financial markets, the company reported that revenue had increased 9 percent to $3.1 billion in the quarter that ended May 31, with software revenue up 12 percent to $2.5 billion and services revenue down 4 percent to $558 million.
For the full 2004 fiscal year, net income was up 16 percent to $2.7 billion, while earnings per share increased from 43 cents to 50 cents. Total revenue for the full fiscal year increased 7 percent to $10.2 billion; software revenue was up 12 percent to $8.1 billion, and services revenue was down 8 percent to $2.1 billion.
"Operating income was $1.4 billion in the fourth quarter and $3.9 billion for the full year," said Oracle Chairman and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Henley. "That's the best operating profit we've ever delivered -- even better than our best year during the Internet bubble. We had a very strong finish to a very good year."
"Since we introduced grid technology six months ago, our database new-license sales have been growing at a rate of 15 percent," said Oracle CEO Larry Ellison. "We're still early on in the adoption cycle, but the Oracle 10g) database is off to a fast start."