SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp
The world's largest software company reported a profit of $6.56 billion, or 78 cents per share, compared with $6.38 billion, or 76 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter.
That easily beat Wall Street's average estimate of 68 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Microsoft shares jumped almost 4 percent in after hours trading.
Sales rose 14 percent to $24.5 billion, helped by higher sales of Office, its Xbox game console and new Surface tablets, also beating Wall Street's forecast of $23.7 billion.
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Over the last few months analysts slightly raised revenue estimates, but reduced them for net income.
Microsoft did not say anything about its five-month search for a new chief executive to replace the retiring Steve Ballmer, which has taken longer than most investors expected.
Its board is still searching for a leader to unify the sprawling technology giant and catapult it into competitive positions in the mobile and tablet markets dominated by Apple Inc
(Reporting by Bill Rigby; Editing by Richard Chang)