Record profits for Dell
Round Rock, TX-based Dell Computer Corp. (Nasdaq: DELL) appears to have emerged form the high-tech slump quite nicely, thank you. Its third-quarter revenue rose 22% while net income increased 31%.
For the three months ended Nov. 1, total revenue was $9.14 billion, compared with $7.47 billion for the comparable period of last year. Net income was $561 million, up from $429 million.
The computer manufacturer/marketer is also projecting a merry holiday season. It expects fourth-quarter shipments to increase up to 10% from the third quarter, or 23% from the fourth quarter of last year. The company estimates fourth-quarter sales to reach nearly $9.7 billion, about a 20% boost from last year.
Anthropologie catalog sales rise on increased circulation Apparel and home accessories marketer Urban Outfitters (Nasdaq: URBN), which mails the Anthropologie catalog, reported record earnings for the third quarter ended Oct. 31. Net income increased 63%, to $8.0 million from $4.9 million last year. Net sales for the quarter increased 19%, to $110.1 million from $92.9 million last year. Comparable store sales increased 10%, with a 15.1% increase for the Anthropologie retain chain and a 7.7% increase for the Urban Outfitters stores.
Catalog and Web sales increased 34%, to $8.5 million from $6.4 million last year, which the Philadelphia-based company attributes to an increase in circulation of the Anthropologie catalog this quarter and the continued strength of Web sales for both of its brands.
Vermont Teddy Bear narrows loss Fiscal first-quarter net revenue at The Vermont Teddy Bear Co. (Nasdaq: BEAR) increased 4%, to $5.1 million for the three months ended Sept. 30. As if that weren’t cause enough to celebrate, the gifts manufacturer/marketer narrowed its net loss to $87,000 from $182,000 a year ago. According to the Shelburne, VT-based company, the fiscal first quarter is generally its slowest, as there are no major gift-giving holidays during the period. Vermont Teddy Bear attributed about half of its sales increase to ongoing test-marketing of PajamaGram, the gifts program it launched in April.