Dell Fails to Delight

Updated from 4:42 p.m. EST

SAN FRANCISCO -- Dell(DELL Quote) grew its bottom line 27% in the third quarter, but the PC makers' first public discussion of its comeback plan left investors feeling cold.

Rising operating expenses and weakness in its U.S. consumer business belied Dell's talk of restructuring and refocusing the company for growth.

And while Dell executives were vague about the financial outlook -- promising only to "grow faster than the industry" -- their comments suggested the road to recovery will be long and bumpy. ...