Dell boosts Q2 revenue and earnings expectations

Increasing market share in the server marketplace has helped Dell Computer Corp. boost its earnings estimates for its second fiscal quarter of 2003, which ends Aug. 2.

In an announcement last week, Dell said it now expects second-quarter revenue to reach US$8.3 billion, up about 9 percent from last year's second quarter. Earnings per share are expected to reach 19 cents, up 19 percent, excluding a special charge one year ago.

The latest projections are higher than those Dell announced May 16, when it laid out its first-quarter results. The earlier estimates for the second quarter envisioned revenue of $8.2 billion and earnings of 18 cents per share.

The company attributed the improved performance to gains in market share in education, government and consumer business segments, which came about despite weakened demand overall in the marketplace.

Dell will release its complete results for the quarter on Aug. 15.

In the first quarter, Dell reported net earnings of $457 million, or 17 cents per share, on revenue of $8.06 billion, which were also higher than the company's earlier estimates.