Intel Q4 net up 6% to $3.4 bn in Dec qtr

Chip-maker Intel Corporation has posted 6% rise in profit at $3.4 billion for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2011, even as revenue from its atom microprocessors and chipsets used in tablets and netbooks slid.

The company had posted profit of $3.2 billion in the October-December quarter of 2010, Intel said in a statement.

Intel has generated a revenue of $13.9 billion in the quarter under review as compared to $11.5 billion in the year-ago period, translating into growth of 21%.

Intel's revenues from microprocessor and chipset were down 57% year-over-year to $167 million.

For the full year, the profit stood at $12.9 billion and the company reported a record revenues of $54 billion during the year.

"2011 was an exceptional year for Intel...With outstanding execution the company performed superbly, growing revenue by more than $10 billion and eclipsing all annual revenue and earnings records," Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini said.

"With a tremendous product and technology pipeline for 2012, we are excited about the global growth opportunities presented by Ultrabook systems, the data centre, security and the introduction of Intel-powered smartphones and tablets," he added.

Looking ahead, Intel expects revenue of $12.8 billion, plus or minus $500 million during the first quarter of 2012.