HP adjusts outlook after sales spike

Article Excerpt

HP INC. $27 is a hold. The company (New York symbol HPQ; Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 1.05 billion; Market cap: $28.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.5; Dividend yield: 3.7%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.hp.com) is a leading maker of personal computers and printers. The stock is down about 28% since the start of 2022. That’s largely due to falling demand for new computers after consumers upgraded their machines during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting shift to remote work and learning. In the fiscal year ending October 31, 2022, HP expects to earn between $4.02 a share and $4.12 a share, down from its earlier forecast of $4.24 to $4.38. The stock trades at a low 6.6 times the midpoint of that new range, which reflects the company’s weaker outlook. The $1.00 dividend looks safe and yields 3.7%. HP is a hold. hold…