HP reported slightly better-than-expected third-quarter results

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Hewlett-Packard Co (HPQ.N) reported slightly better-than-expected third-quarter results on Tuesday, helped by strong server sales, but the company expressed caution about business demand, and shares fell 2 percent in extended trading.

HP's business is stabilizing, Chief Executive Mark Hurd said on a conference call with analysts, but when asked whether enterprise demand is picking up, he said, "I think what we've seen so far this year is what we'll see for the rest of year."

Hurd said he was encouraged by the stability, but was not yet ready to "call it a turn."

The company took share in personal computers and servers in the quarter, and made positive comments about its services business, said Edward Jones analyst Bill Kreher.

Nevertheless, he said, "investors may have been looking for a little more bullish commentary on the macro level. So while HP was willing to say business is stabilizing, they don't yet have the conviction to call an uptick."

HP's business touches on many parts of the technology sector, from personal computers and services to servers and printers, and its results are an indicator of industry health.

There were positive signs in the results, but Europe is dragging on the company, said Jane Snorek, senior technology analyst with First American Funds, which owns HP stock.

"Europe is their problem. It's still weak," she said.

For the fourth quarter, HP forecast earnings excluding items to be $1.12 a share -- ahead of Wall Street estimates -- and revenue to be up roughly 8 percent sequentially.

HP expects fiscal 2009 revenue and earnings to be at the midpoint of its previous outlook. In May, HP forecast earnings per share of $3.76 to $3.88 before items. On a net basis, it forecast earnings per share of $3.02 to $3.16.

At the same time, the company said it expected revenue to decline between 4 percent and 5 percent.

BEATING EXPECTATIONS

HP reported net earnings of $1.6 billion, or 67 cents a share, in the fiscal third quarter ended July 31, down from $2.03 billion, or 80 cents a share, a year ago.

Excluding items, HP posted a profit of 91 cents a share, beating the average analyst estimate of 90 cents a share, according to Reuters Estimates.

Revenue fell 2 percent to $27.5 billion, versus the average Wall Street estimate of $27.2 billion.

HP is the world's leading PC maker, capturing roughly one-fifth of the market. Shipments in the third quarter rose 2 percent, but average selling prices declined and revenue fell 18 percent.

The company said it saw strong demand for the latest generation of its ProLiant servers.

HP continues to gain share in PCs and x86 servers, but it said it is now modeling for "more modest" share gains.

HP is the world's second-largest tech services company behind IBM (IBM.N), following last year's acquisition of EDS. Services was HP's largest revenue segment in the quarter.

The company might sell or shut parts of its outsourcing business to focus on higher-margin areas of its technology services offerings, people familiar with the matter have told Reuters. Its services unit houses some of the businesses that could come up for sale.

Shares of Palo Alto, California-based HP closed at $43.96 on the New York Stock Exchange, and fell to $43.09 in extended trading.