New IBM CEO Ginni Rometty sticks with Big Blue's outlook for 2012... and 2015.
Big Blue reported fourth quarter earnings of $5.5 billion, or $4.62 a share. Non-GAAP earnings, which excludes charges and other items, were $4.71 a share.
Wall Street was looking for fourth quarter earnings of $4.62 a share on revenue of $29.7 billion.
For the fourth quarter, revenue was up 4 percent. CEO Ginni Rometty, however, said that the company is on track toward delivering 2015 operating earnings of $20 a share. Wall Street was watching to see if Rometty would stick with IBM's 2015 view.
As for IBM's outlook, the company projected 2012 earnings of $14.85 a share on a non-GAAP basis and $14.16 a share GAAP. Wall Street was looking for earnings of $14.82.
By the numbers for the fourth quarter:
This item first appeared on ZDNet's Between the Lines blog under the headline "IBM: 2012 outlook solid, 2015 roadmap on track."