This is a long time coming.
In 1995, I went to an (NDA) talk given by HP. In it they lauded their future as a commodity computer company. Their "new' CPU ("Itanic" which they were developing with Intel) would allow them to sell computers to 'fill every need'. HP-UX or Windows, server room or desktop, HP had the computer for you. It seems as if they executed their plan (with updates, of course) well.
On the other side, for fiscal year 1999, HP revenues were up 17%, and profits increased by 16%. BUT, after the earnings announcement (which sounded pretty damned good to ME) HP stock fell $5.00 per share. In other words, Wall Street wants something (as expressed by analysts' predictions of MORE than a 16% growth) and punishes you greatly if you don't conform to THEIR requirements.
In other words, HP is most likely a company you can invest in, and reap rewards 5 or more years down the road. No problem. While Wall Street is still (apparently) stuck in the pre-2000 mode of requiring VERY high profit increases. And Wall Street has the temerity to punish you if you don't confirm to THEIR needs.
Time to FLATTEN and re-construct what we know as "Wall Street". It is an unbearable DRAG on the US economy, ESPECIALLY the future economy. [See General Electric under Jack Welsh, and his RADICAL curbing of GE's basic R&D. Plus the more than 50% stock price drop between Oct., 2000 and Feb, 2003 as a result of him leaving and his policies showing their REAL "return".]