Creative Technology - aka Creative Labs - today said its Q4 results had exceeded its own expectations, with sales rising 35 per cent over the year-ago quarter to $201.8m.

The three months to 30 June 2004 saw income reach $6.6m (eight cents a share), up 43 per cent on Q4 2003's $4.6m (six cents a share).

For the whole year, Creative's sales of MP3 players and audio accessories totalled $814.9m up 16 per cent from 2003's $701.8m. Net income rose 68 per cent year on year from $29.4m (36 cents a share) to $49.4m (59 cents a share) on the back of improved margins and cost-control.

Investment gains, a tax write-back and other one-offs took 2004's income to $134.2m (161 cents a share), compared to 2003's $23.4m (29 cents a share).

Looking ahead, Creative said it expects its current quarter, Q1 2005, to yield year-on-year revenue growth of 25-30 per cent to $200-210m. With gross margins anticipated at around 32 per cent, plus $60-62m in operating expenses, Creative reckons Q1 should yield earnings of six cents a share. ®

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