Google, Oracle earnings stoke IT
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(InfoWorld) - The tech-heavy Nasdaq has been climbing recently, spurred by some of the usual suspects, such as Google. But Oracle results and prospects for chip makers also inspired confidence among IT investors this week. Expectations have not been great this year for mature areas of the enterprise software market. But Oracle inspired IT investors this week with aÂ strong financial reportÂ that indicates its acquisition strategy has been paying off. Quarterly revenue rose 20 percent to $5.8 billion and profit increased 23 percent to $1.6 billion. Excluding extraordinary charges, Oracle's $0.37 per share in the quarter beat estimates by analysts polled by Thomson Financial, who had forecast $0.35 per share. Oracle shares jumped $0.53 to close at $19.69 on Wednesday, a day after the earnings report, and continued strong. Over the last three years, including theÂ PeopleSoft deal, Oracle has made about 30 purchases for approximately $25 billion. For example, business intelligence software maker Hyperion,Â a recent acquisition, added $43 million to Oracle's new license revenue in the quarter. Oracle is now going after companies that will help the company target sales in vertical markets. On the post-earnings report conference call with analysts, CEO Larry Ellison said that Oracle will continue its acquisition strategy. Meanwhile, Google continues to break records and expectations. Brokerages, including Oppenheimer & Co., Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., and JMP Securities,Â issued bullish analysis reports this weekÂ and raised share-price targets after seeing the company's share price rise about 15 percent over the last quarter. As Google continues to dominate search advertising, however, it has also spent lavishly on R&D, technology infrastructure and acquisitions. Though profit has been great, the spending has sparked some debate. But this week, JMP's Bill Morrison added a new twist to conventional thinking, writing in a research report that the capital expenditures have given Google a cost-efficient technology platform. This platform gives Google an ongoing cost advantage over competitors, he said. After the report, Google shares hit their highest close on Tuesday since the company's 2004 IPO, although they drifted down over the next few days. In the chip sector, a price war between Intel and AMD, coupled with expectations for a soft PC market this year, has caused concern. But some new reports and forecasts have cheered investors lately. Lehman Brothers raised its rating on Intel this week to "overweight" from "equal weight." Lehman analyst Tim Luke cited new product cycles, progress on restructuring, and a reasonable share valuation. The report echoed a similar research paper issued by brokerage Stifel Nicolaus and Co. last week, only that one was directed at AMD. Meanwhile, GartnerÂ said this week that worldwide personal computer shipments are projected to rise 11.1 percent in 2007, higher than previously expected. PC shipments are estimated to increase to 257.1 million from 231.5 million a year earlier as sales in emerging markets grow, Gartner said, in the wake of a similar report several weeks ago from IDC. The news caused shares of Intel and AMD to spike. Intel shares closed at $23.79 Wednesday, up by $0.41, and continued strong Thursday. AMD also spiked on Wednesday, though lost some ground later in the week.
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BUSINESS software maker Oracle&#39;s quarterly earnings just exceeded analyst expectations, overcoming sluggish sales in applications the company hopes to remedy through its takeover bid for rival PeopleSoft.
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Web search leader Google Inc reported on Thursday a 46 percent rise in profit that topped Wall Street expectations, fueled by accelerating market share gains and tighter cost controls.
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Stocks opened higher as investors grew encouraged following Oracleâs strong earnings, despite Bear Stearns first-ever quarterly loss.
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Internet search engine Google thanks strong advertising sales for a target-beating rise in both turnover and profits.
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Slams SAP's 'downmarket' strategy Database software giant Oracle said its first quarter profit rose by 25 per cent, with revenue and earnings per share beating Wall Street expectations for the firm.â¦
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Google&#39;s first quarterly earnings statement since its recent IPO rewarded investors with the news that the company has doubled its profits in the past year.
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U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday, with   the Nasdaq rallying more than 1 percent, after solid earnings   reports from software maker Oracle Corp. ORCL.O and   investment bank Morgan Stanley. MS.N
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Stocks rose on Thursday, led by technology shares, as a reassuring profit and outlook from Oracle Corp  offset nagging concerns about financial companies' exposure to bad debt.
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Oracle Corp. , the world&#39;s  third-largest software maker, reported on Tuesday higher  quarterly profit as sales of products it acquired over the past  year helped boost earnings.
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Stocks resumed the weekâs rally as Wall Street drew confidence from strong earnings from Oracle.
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Google&#8217;s 2006 Q4 earnings beat Wall Street expectations when they announed today that revenues were up 67% over Q4 2005 and 16% more than last quarter. From the Google Earnings Press Release: Q4 Financial Summary  Google reported revenues of $3.21 billion for the quarter ended December 31, 2006, an increase of 67% compared to the fourth quarter [...]
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Profits pumped 46 per cent Google still has a knack for wowing Wall Street.â¦
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SAN FRANCISCO - Business software maker Oracle Corp.'s quarterly earnings exceeded analyst expectations, overcoming sluggish sales in a product line that the company hopes to bolster by completing a long-sought takeover of rival PeopleSoft Inc.    The Redwood Shores-based company said Tuesday it earned $509 million, or 10 cents per share, during the three months ended in August, a 16 percent improvement from $440 million, or 8 cents per share, at the same time last year...
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Google Inc.'s third-quarter profit soared 46 percent to hurdle the enormous expectations that have elevated the Internet search leader's stock price by more $100 during the past month.
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Google Shares Surge On Market Forecasts  On Friday Google stocks soared up 20 percent on earnings news to trade at over 100% of its lower than expected IPO price two months ago. Google reported an earnings report on Thursday which showed large gains in come due to to the Google AdWords ...
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The stock market surged last week on robust earnings from technology companies.