Intel reported modest growth for the fourth quarter, saying it sees signs of stabilisation in the PC market. The chipmaker's revenues rose 3 percent year-on-year to USD 13.8 billion, and the gross margin improved 4.0 percent points to 62.0 percent, in line with the company's outlook. Net profit increased 6 percent to USD 2.6 billion or 51 cents a share. The company generated USD 6.2 billion in cash from operations, paid dividends of USD 1.1 billion and used USD 528 million to repurchase 22 million shares of stock.
Intel confirmed its outlook for 2014 of flat revenues, while noting its working on several new products that weren't on its roadmap six months ago, as part of efforts to stimulate sales. The company forecast a slowdown in the first quarter, with group sales dropping to an estimated USD 12.8 billion.
In 2013, Intel's core PC Client Group recorded revenues down 4 percent to USD 33.0 billion as demand for tablets eroded PC sales. The company's Data Centre activities grew a stronger 7 percent to USD 11.2 billion, while revenues from other products fell by 7 percent to USD 4.1 billion. In Q4, PC sales improved to 2 percent sequential growth and other architecture expanded by 4 percent from Q3.
