Microsoft posts profit, splits stock

Zardon · Jan 16, 2003, 10:54 PM

REDMOND, WASH. (REUTERS) - Microsoft Corp. on Thursday posted quarterly sales and earnings that outstripped its own forecast and Wall Street expectations as a new software licensing plan lifted revenues, and announced a two-for-one stock split.

It also announced its first-ever dividend of 16 cents per share, before the split, since going public in 1986.

Microsoft reported a net profit of $2.55 billion, or 47 cents per share for its fiscal second quarter ended Dec. 31, up from $2.28 billion, or 41 cents per share a year earlier.

The Redmond, Washington-based software giant had forecast a profit of 45 or 46 cents, while analysts polled by Thomson First Call had been expecting 46 cents per share on average.

Revenue was $8.54 billion, a record high, in the middle of Microsoft's own forecast range of revenue between $8.5 billion and $8.6 billion and higher than the $7.74 billion reported a year earlier.

Jan 16, 2003, 10:54 PM	#1
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	Microsoft posts profit, splits stock REDMOND, WASH. (REUTERS) - Microsoft Corp. on Thursday posted quarterly sales and earnings that outstripped its own forecast and Wall Street expectations as a new software licensing plan lifted revenues, and announced a two-for-one stock split. It also announced its first-ever dividend of 16 cents per share, before the split, since going public in 1986. Microsoft reported a net profit of $2.55 billion, or 47 cents per share for its fiscal second quarter ended Dec. 31, up from $2.28 billion, or 41 cents per share a year earlier. The Redmond, Washington-based software giant had forecast a profit of 45 or 46 cents, while analysts polled by Thomson First Call had been expecting 46 cents per share on average. Revenue was $8.54 billion, a record high, in the middle of Microsoft's own forecast range of revenue between $8.5 billion and $8.6 billion and higher than the $7.74 billion reported a year earlier.