Computer Hardware Roundup (MSFT, AAPL, DELL, HPQ)

Jeffrey Fidacaro and Stanley Kovler, analysts at Susquehanna Financial Group, report that Q4 PC unit growth exceeds expectations.

Referring to IDC’s preliminary global PC shipments data, they state that PC shipment grew 15% y-o-y over the same quarter last year. The growth was partly due to the launch of Windows 7 and strong growth in emerging markets.

Hewlett Packard (NYSE: HPQ) has gained market share with significant expansion in the U.S and has been rated as Positive by the analysts. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) has reported strong U.S. shipments in spite of the launch of Microsoft’s (NASDAQ: MSFT) Windows 7. Apple too has been rated as Positive by the analysts. The analysts have rated Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) as Neutral as it reported a loss of market share for the third consecutive quarter in spite of increasing its PC shipments by 5%.