HP Extends Lead Over Dell in PC Sales

Hewlett-Packard continued to push its lead in PC sales over rival Dell, according to data from industry research firms Gartner and IDC. HP shipped 12.8 million PCs worldwide during the third quarter, Gartner says, a 33% increase y/y, giving it 19% of the total market. Dell shipped 9.8 million PCs over the same period, giving it 14% of the market, up only 3.5% from a year ago, but reversing a three-quarter streak during which the company's PC sales fell y/y. It was HP's second-straight 30%-plus growth quarter, helped by strong retail sales and other distribution channels, and demand for its laptop PCs, IDC said. Total PC shipments were up 15.5% during the quarter, IDC said. One analyst had this to say: "[Dell's] growth of under 4% is not going to earn any fans on Wall Street."

Sources: Wall Street Journal, Reuters, 24/7 Wall St.
Commentary: Changes in the Consumer PC Market: Great News for Apple, Ominous for Dell • The Decline of the PC : Computers No Longer a Growth Industry
Stocks to watch: DELL, HPQ. Competitors: LNVGY, IBM. ETFs: IAH
Earnings call transcripts: Dell Q2 2007, Hewlett Packard F3Q07 (Qtr End 7/31/07)

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