This week, Dell Inc. impressed investors with a better-than-expected earnings report, while TiVo Inc. also posted solid results mainly due to lower costs.
On Thursday, Dell reported first-quarter profit and sales above Wall Street's expectations, boosted by strong notebook sales and strength outside the U.S., including Asia. The Round Rock, Texas-based company's shares closed the week up nearly 9 percent.
"Dell finally provided investors with results that warrant a positive reaction, with strength in almost all business segments, though notebooks were a standout," wrote BMO Capital Markets analyst Keith Bachmann in a note to investors.
Dell, which has made notebook computers a priority, said shipments jumped 43 percent compared with the first quarter of the previous year.
Also during the week, digital video recorder pioneer TiVo Inc. said Wednesday its first-quarter earnings more than quadrupled as operating costs _ notably marketing and research _ declined.
The Alviso, Calif.-based company earned 4 cents per share on services and technology revenue of $54.9 million. The profit beat expectations of analysts Polled by Thomson Financial, while revenue was slightly below analysts' views.
TiVo also reported 3.8 million total subscribers in the first quarter, compared with 4.3 million in the year-ago quarter.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: China-based online gaming company Shanda Interactive Entertainment Ltd. reported on Tuesday that its first-quarter profit fell as increased expenses more than offset higher role-playing and casual game revenue.
The company's American Depositary Shares fell on Wednesday, and again on Thursday after a Citi Investment Research analyst downgraded the stock to "Hold" from "Buy."
Citi analyst Alicia Yap noted delays in launching a new game and uncertainties regarding the impact of China's recent earthquake.
Like other online gaming companies in China, Shanda shut down operations for three days this month for a mourning period related to the May 12 quake.
COMING UP: Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., the video game publisher behind the "Grand Theft Auto" series, reports fiscal second-quarter earnings on Thursday. Analysts, on average, expect a profit of $1.12 per share on sales of $496.6 million, according to a poll by Thomson Financial. A $2 billion tender offer for Take-Two from larger rival Electronic Arts Inc. expires in June.
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Compiled by Rachel Metz and Barbara Ortutay, AP Business Writers in New York
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