Dell Delays Earnings Report

Updated from 8:15 a.m. EST

Dell (DELL Quote - Cramer on DELL - Stock Picks) is pushing back its quarterly earnings report as a result of a regulatory probe into its accounting and financials, the company said late Wednesday.

The PC maker also said the Securities and Exchange Commission has issued a formal order of investigation to the company, a development that gives the government the power to issue subpoenas.

Shares of Dell were off $1, or 3.9%, to $24.75 in early trading. The company had been planning to report its numbers after the market closes Thursday, but Dell now says the results for its fiscal third quarter will be out by the end of the month.

Dell said the delay "reflects the level of complexity the company is facing in the preparation of its preliminary results. This complexity arises out of the ongoing investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the company's Audit Committee into certain accounting and financial reporting matters, and the fact the company has not filed its Form 10-Q for the second fiscal quarter."

Future earnings announcements will be moved back by around one week from the prior schedule.

The company said the delay in releasing its subsequent earnings isn't related to the fact that the SEC is now conducting a formal review. Dell continues to cooperate with regulators.