Microsoft 2Q net income edges down less than 1 pct

REDMOND, WASH. (AP) - Microsoft Corp. says net income edged down less than one percent in the most recent quarter from a year ago, hurt by weak personal computer shipments.

Microsoft’s net income for the fiscal second quarter was $6.63 billion, compared with $6.66 billion in the same period last year.

Thanks to stock buybacks, net income rose to 77 cents per share from 74 cents.

That’s better than Wall Street expected. Analysts surveyed by FactSet forecast net income of 69 cents per share.

Worldwide personal computer shipments only grew about 3 percent during the last three months of 2010. Revenue from Windows dropped 30 percent to $5.1 billion.

Microsoft’s revenue edged up 5 percent to $20 billion, topping analysts’ expectations for $19.2 billion in revenue.