PCs: Goldman Cuts Shipment Forecast On HDD Shortage

Goldman Sachs this morning reduced its PC shipment forecast for the June quarter to down 1.5% year-over year, versus a previous projection of up 3.3%, to reflect the ongoing shortage of hard-disk drives due to last year's flooding in Thailand. Goldman now sees full year 2012 PC shipments up 3%, down from a previous forecast of 3.3%. The firm now expects the hard-drive shortage to recovery in the September quarter, one quarter later than previously forecast.

In connection with that call, Goldman analyst Heather Bellini trimmed her forecast for Microsoft's financial results for the June quarter. Bellini now sees Windows revenue in the June quarter of $4.8 billion, down from $5 billion, with total revenue of $18.8 billion, down from $19 billion, and profits of 66 cents a share, down from 67 cents, but still above the consensus at 65 cents.

On the other hand, Bellini said that based on updated March quarter PC shipment forecasts, she boosted her Windows revenue forecast for the March quarter to $4.2 billion from $4 billion, boosting total revenue to $16.9 billion, from $16.8 billion, with EPS of 56 cents, up from 55 cents, but a penny below the Street at 57 cents.