Dell Q4 driven by large companies, SMES

Dell delivered strong results amid strong enterprise and SMB request for the fourth quarter.

The company reported fourth quarter earnings of $ 927 million, or 48 cents a share, on revenue of $ 15.7 billion. Non-GAAP earnings were 53 cents a share, well ahead of the 37 cents a share expected by Wall Street.

For the 2011 tax, Dell reported earnings of $ 2.63 billion, or $ 1.35 a share, on revenue of $ 61.5 billion, up 5 percent a year ago (see preview).

Dell CEO Michael Dell said in a statement that it was satisfied with the services that the company is seeing its commercial activities. For the fiscal year 2012, Dell projected revenue growth of 5% to 9% and the growth of non-GAAP operating income of 6-12%. In the first quarter, Dell has projected the usual seasonal decline and "a slight sequential decline in revenue."

In fact, large business sales delivered in the fourth quarter. Large business sales were $ 4.7 billion, up 12 percent a year ago. Operating income amounted to $ 502 million. Note: PC revenue grew 20 percent a year ago amid a strong refresh cycle.

By the numbers:

Gross margins were 8.5% in the fourth quarter, up from 6.8% a year ago.Revenue was $ 4 billion, up to 4 percent a year ago. Operating income was $ 366 million. Server and storage sales pushed the results of the public sector.Dell has demonstrated strength of small and medium-sized enterprises with a turnover of € 3.7 billion, up 12 percent a year ago. Server and storage revenue dominated and the SMB unit delivered the fourth quarter operating income of $ 450 million.

Consumer sales for the fourth quarter were $ 3.3 billion, down 8 percent a year ago.The company delivered Asia-Pacific and Japan revenue growth of 17 percent. North America and Europe Middle East Africa grew revenue 3%.And the distribution of the services of:

Dell said that the company's strategy for the next fiscal year will rotate around growing services, exploiting its supply chain and strengthen the financial bottom line.

Larry Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet and SmartPlanet as well as Editorial Director of ZDNet sister site TechRepublic.