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'Net Earnings Roundup: Allaire, Proxicom shine

4 min read

Allaire Corp. (Nasdaq: ALLR) tiptoed past analysts' estimates in its fourth quarter Wednesday, earning $478,000, or 3 cents a share, on sales of $18.3 million. It also announced a 2-for-1 stock split.

First Call consensus pegged the e-business platform provider for a profit of 2 cents a share in the quarter.

Allaire shares closed up 11 9/16, or 7 percent, to 171 7/8 ahead of the earnings report.

The $18.3 million in sales represents a 164 percent jump from the year-ago quarter when it lost $4.3 million, or 54 cents a share, on sales of $7 million.

For the fiscal year, Allaire lost $2.6 million, or 22 cents a share, on sales of $55.2 million compared to a loss of $17.1 million, or $2.20 a share, on sales of $21.4 million in fiscal 1998.

"1999 was a breakthrough year for Allaire," said CEO David Orfao in a prepared release. "And, as we move forward in 2000, we believe Allaire is very well positioned to take advantage of the huge opportunities in the e-business platform market."

Allaire shares moved up to a 52-week high of 188 1/4 in December after falling to a low of 39 7/8 in June.

Seven of the eight analysts following the stock maintain either a "buy" or "strong buy" recommendation.

Among other technology companies reporting earnings Wednesday:

  • NetZero Inc. (Nasdaq: NZRO) posted a smaller-than-expected loss in its second quarter, losing $24.6 million, or 27 cents a share, on sales of $12.2 million.

    Analysts were expecting a loss of 29 cents a share.

    In the year-ago quarter, NetZero lost $1.8 million, or 22 cents a share, on sales of $122,000.

    In the quarter, NetZero added nearly 1 million registered users. Registered users accessing NetZero's service during December totaled 1.45 million.

    Total advertising impressions delivered during the December quarter were 5.07 billion, or a daily average of 55 million impressions. This was a 41 percent increase from the total advertising impressions delivered in the September 1999 quarter of 3.6 billion, or a daily average of 39 million impressions.

    "The outstanding results we've reported this quarter clearly demonstrate the strength of NetZero's business model,'' said CEO Mark Goldston in a prepared release.

    NetZero shares peaked at 40 in earlier this month after falling to a low of 17 3/16 in October.

  • MP3.com Inc. (Nasdaq: MPPP) posted a smaller-than-expected loss in its fourth quarter, losing $10.6 million, or 17 cents a share, on sales of $15.3 million.

    Its shares closed off 1 to 30 ahead of the earnings report.

    First Call consensus expected MP3.com to lose 23 cents a share in the quarter.

  • Proxicom Inc. (Nasdaq: PXCM) slipped past Street estimates in its fourth quarter, earning $1.9 million, or 6 cents a share, on sales of $29.6 million.

    Its shares closed up 2 1/2 to 112 1/2 ahead of the earnings report.

    It also announced a 2-for-1 stock split.

    The $29.6 million in sales marks a 130 percent improvement from the year-ago quarter when it lost $10,000 on sales of $12.9 million.

    Its shares moved up to a 52-week high of 135 earlier this month after falling to a low of 17 in May.

  • Women.com Inc. (Nasdaq: WOMN) checked in with a smaller-than-expected loss in its fourth quarter, losing $9.3 million, or 21 cents a share, on sales of $12.2 million.

    First Call consensus expected Women.com to lose 22 cents a share in the quarter.

    Its shares peaked at 23 3/8 in November before falling to a low of 10 9/16 earlier this month.

    Women.com shares closed up 1/16 to 12 ahead of the earnings report.

    All three analysts tracking the stock rate it either a "buy" or "strong buy."

  • Beyond.com Inc. (Nasdaq: BYND) posted a smaller-than-expected loss in its fourth quarter, losing $22.4 million, or 62 cents a share, on sales of $35.3 million.

    Analysts expected the online software retailer to lose 67 cents a share in the quarter.

    Its shares closed off 5/16 to 6 3/16 ahead of the earnings report.

    The $35.3 million in sales represents a 169 percent jump from the year-ago quarter when it lost $13.9 million, or 51 cents a share, on sales of $13.1 million.

    Beyond.com shares hit an all-time high of 37 in April before bottoming out at 6 in June.

  • BackWeb Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: BWEB) topped Street estimates in its fourth quarter, losing $1.4 million, or 4 cents a share, on sales of $7.9 million.

    First Call consensus expected it to lose 7 cents a share in the quarter.

    Its shares closed up 1/8 to 42 3/4 ahead of the earnings report.

    The $7.9 million in sales marks a 125 percent improvement from the year-ago quarter when it lost $2.1 million, or 10 cents a share, on sales of $3.5 million.

    Its shares hit a 52-week high of 51 7/16 in November after falling to a low of 15 in June.>