PC maker Dell last night posted a higher quarterly profit amid market-share gains and lower component costs that fuelled solid growth as rivals weakened.
Dell shares rose 1.9 per cent in after-hours trading after company executives said the company now expects to reach its five-year target of doubling the company's revenues - a $60 billion target - by next year, one year ahead of schedule.
During the third quarter, Dell continued to take share from rivals, analysts said, despite a weakening market for PCs that followed six strong quarters of rebounding business spending.
Dell defied the trend, with unit shipments growing 22 per cent, or twice the rate of growth in the market as a whole.
Third-quarter net income rose to $846 million, or 33 cents per share, compared with the year earlier quarter's $677 million, or 26 cents per share.
Revenue for the company, which employs 4,000 people in Ireland, rose 18 per cent to $12.50 billion from $10.62 billion. Growth was led by notebook units, which increased 35 per cent. Desktops grew 18 per cent and servers grew 19 per cent.
Revenue from consumer electronics such as flat panel televisions and music players grew 37 per cent worldwide.
Dell shipments grew 31 per cent in its Europe, Middle East and Africa region - twice the market rate and 25 per cent in Asia, or three times the rate of the market, Dell said.
The Americas grew only 14 per cent in unit terms, but 3.7 times the rate of the rest of the market, the company said.