HP quarterly profit plunges 90 percent

 　　SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) on Monday reported that its profit in the most recent quarter fell more than 90 percent with sales also declining.

　　In the company's fourth quarter of fiscal¹ 2011 ended Oct. 31, the company posted net earnings² of 239 million U.S. dollars, compared with 2.54 billion dollars in the same period a year earlier.

　　HP's net revenue for the quarter reached 32.1 billion dollars, down 3 percent year-on-year.

　　Excluding one-time items, HP earned 1.17 dollars per share, which topped estimates of analysts³.

　　According to Thomson Reuters, analysts had expected earnings of 1.13 dollars per share on revenue of 32.05 billion dollars.

　　It was the first earnings report since Meg Whitman took over as chief executive officer (CEO) of the information technology giant on Sept. 22, replacing Leo Apotheker.

　　"HP has a great opportunity to build on our strong hardware, software, and services franchises⁴ with leading market positions, customer relationships, and intellectual property," Whitman said in a statement after the earnings announcement.

　　"We need to get back to the business fundamentals in fiscal 2012, including making prudent⁵ investments in the business and driving more consistent execution," she added.

1 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。

2 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

3 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

4 franchises   

n.（尤指选举议员的）选举权( franchise的名词复数 )；参政权；获特许权的商业机构（或服务）；（公司授予的）特许经销权v.给…以特许权，出售特许权( franchise的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• TV franchises will be auctioned to the highest bidder. 电视特许经营权将拍卖给出价最高的投标人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Ford dealerships operated as independent franchises. 福特汽车公司的代销商都是独立的联营商。 来自辞典例句

5 prudent   

adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的

参考例句：

• A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
• You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。