By | Team Register 17th February 2005 16:40

Bell swings into full year profit

Euro ops boost Q4 margins

Bell Microproducts yesterday reported a 140 per cent increase in fourth quarter profits.

The distributor’s revenues in the period ending 31 December were $808m, up 26 per cent on the year, while net earnings were $5.8m, compared to the previous year’s $2.4m.

For the full year, sales came in at $2.8bn, up 27 per cent on the year, while net earnings were $11.3m, compared to the previous year’s $4.5m loss.

Improvements at Bell’s European operation underpinned an improvement in gross margins from 7.5% to 8%.

President and CEO, Donald Bell, said the company’s growth rate was 27 per cent, compared to 10 per cent for the technology distribution sector overall. He expects to boost the company’s share in the current year. ®