denting
[SAP released preliminary results for 2014. Revenue went up by 4%, to €17.6 billion ($23.3 billion); operating profit fell by 3%, to €4.3 billion. The shift to cloud-based services, for which customers pay recurring subscriptions rather than one-off fees, is denting the profitability of Europe’s biggest software company—and of its rivals.]
1in this brief ,the [preliminary]means the general the common result ,not the final result ?
2 THE meaning of [DENTING]?

Question

denting
[SAP released preliminary results for 2014. Revenue went up by 4%, to €17.6 billion ($23.3 billion); operating profit fell by 3%, to €4.3 billion. The shift to cloud-based services, for which customers pay recurring subscriptions rather than one-off fees, is denting the profitability of Europe’s biggest software company—and of its rivals.]
1in this brief ,the [preliminary]means the general the common result ,not the final result ?
2 THE meaning of [DENTING]?

Answer

1) Yes, "preliminary" means not final. 
2) "Denting" means "hurting" or "damaging".

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