HPQ HP Inc

By Micah Maidenberg 

Personal-computer shipments rose in the fourth quarter, boosted by businesses that moved to snap up devices running a newer version of Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system, according to the latest data from two industry research firms.

The fourth-quarter gains helped the market for PCs grow year over year in 2019 for the first time since 2011, International Data Corp. and Gartner Inc. said Monday.

Businesses have raced to buy computers with Windows 10 software, replacing those running Windows 7, which Microsoft said it would stop supporting on Tuesday.

"The PC market experienced growth for the first time since 2011, driven by vibrant business demand for Windows 10 upgrades," said Mikako Kitagawa, senior principal analyst at Gartner.

Gartner said computer makers shipped 70.6 million units in the fourth quarter, up 2.3% from the year earlier.

Fourth-quarter shipments for desktops, notebooks and other computers increased 4.8% from the year earlier to 71.8 million units, the best quarterly total since the fourth quarter of 2015, IDC said.

IDC and Gartner use different definitions of PCs, resulting in different shipment numbers.

Lenovo Group Ltd., HP Inc. and Dell Technologies Inc. continued to dominate the industry, controlling about 66% of market share between them as of the fourth quarter, IDC said. The three companies controlled 65% of the market, according to Gartner's tally.

"The market will still have its challenges ahead, but this year was a clear sign that PC demand is still there" despite competition from mobile devices and other emerging computing forms, said Ryan Reith, IDC program vice president.

Write to Micah Maidenberg at micah.maidenberg@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 13, 2020 18:10 ET (23:10 GMT)

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