TECHNOLOGY - Nov. 18, 1995

Hewlett-Packard Profit Jumps 42%: The Palo Alto-based electronics firm’s fourth-quarter profit of $678 million, or $1.29 a share, exceeded Wall Street forecasts, but its stock fell as investors analyzed the cost of such growth--a lower profit margin. Chairman Lewis E. Platt expressed satisfaction with the results but also said margin pressures will continue. The stock closed down $4.75 to $88.50 on the New York Stock Exchange, a 5% drop on volume that was more than twice its daily average. Separately, the company’s directors approved a stock repurchase of $1 billion but did not set a date for completion. Much of the quarterly growth came from personal computers, which have a lower profit margin than other computers. Profit rose 66% in the previous quarter.