The world's largest PC maker, Hewlett-Packard Corp. (NYSE: HPQ), reported a 10% quarterly drop in earnings. In other words, welcome to the recession HP. Although the PC industry has been hammered along with every other industry in the global economic recession, HP has continued to shine, all things considered, in recent quarters. Reality hit this Wednesday after the market, however.CEO Mark Hurd, an expert at containing costs and pressing into new business areas, is the right leader at the worst time in the company's recent history. Still, can any company weather the economic and consumer spending mess in progress? For HP, analysts who were expecting $0.93 per share for the company's first quarter saw a figure of $0.75 once HP let the results hit.
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