Hewlett-Packard Pulls a Netflix, May Not Separate PC Division

Loading...
Loading...
It's a good month for undoing bad mistakes.
Earlier this week, Netflix
NFLX
announced that it had
cancelled
its
ridiculous plans
to split its streaming and DVD businesses into two separate companies. Now it seems that Hewlett-Packard
HPQ
might follow suit. According to the
Wall Street Journal
(via
Business Insider
), Meg Whitman – who recently joined HP as CEO – is reconsidering the company's direction. With $40 billion in total sales and $2 billion in net profit, HP's computer business is not to be underestimated. Sure, the company might produce some of the world's worst computers. But somebody is buying them! Thus, HP might as well continue to manufacture them,
even if
the costs are too high and the profit margins are too low. When Leo Apotheker was in charge, he believed that HP could become a stronger company focusing on bigger hardware and enterprise software, just like IBM
IBM
. But without the PC business, the company's profits would have dropped from $8.8 billion to $6.8 in 2010. That math just doesn't add up. This might explain why analysts were
quick to applaud
HP's decision to replace its CEO.
Follow me @LouisBedigian
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Comments
Loading...
Posted In: NewsWall Street JournalRumorsTechMediaBusiness Insiderhewlett-packardHPLeo ApothekerMeg WhitmanNetflixWall Street Journal
Benzinga simplifies the market for smarter investing

Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.

Join Now: Free!

Loading...