At a time when other software and computer-hardware companies are being hit hard by the slump in corporate spending, Microsoft appears on track to post a fourth-quarter profit at the high end of its own guidance, analysts said.
Microsoft's results, due after the close of U.S. markets on July 18, will be closely watched for how the software giant views the outlook for personal computer sales, which have remained weak despite signs of an economic recovery.
Many analysts expect Microsoft to report fourth-quarter earnings at the upper end of the 41- to 42-cents-per-share range that it has projected.
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