Business appliance maker Xerox Corp. said it expects profits to increase 10 percent to 15 percent next year due to growth in color printing sales, according to Anne Mulcahy, Xerox CEO.

Mulcahy said she expects to report 2006 profit of between U.S. $1 and $1.07 per share.
Through the third quarter of this year, Xerox's color revenue has grown 18 percent, accounting for 29 percent of revenue.

Gross profit from color pages is five times greater than black-and-white, Mulcahy said, noting that less than 7 percent of Xerox pages are printed on color devices. "The growth opportunity is huge," she said.

Mulcahy also said she expects 2006 revenue to rise 3 percent from this year. She also reiterated previously stated guidance for the current quarter, saying she expects per-share earnings in the range of $0.25 to $0.29. (Reuters)