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Earnings Roundup: Check Point, Symantec fly past estimates

2 min read

Check Point Software rolled past analysts' estimates in its second quarter Wednesday, pocketing $43.7 million, or 50 cents a share, on sales of $90.7 million.

A survey of analysts by First Call Corp. pegged the Internet security software developer for a profit of 42 cents a share in the quarter.

Ahead of the earnings report, Check Point (Nasdaq: CHKP) shares plunged 25 11/16, or 10 percent, to 224 7/8. In after-hours trading, the stock moved up to 233 1/2.

The $90.7 million in sales marks an 81 percent improvement from the year-ago quarter when it earned $21.5 million, or 27 cents a share, on sales of $50.1 million.

"Check Point is pleased to announce continued strong results in another record quarter," said CEO Gil Shwed in a prepared release. "The exceptional strength in our core enterprise business, combined with our new product introductions and strengthened partnerships, highlight the second quarter."

Check Point shares surged to a 52-week high of 295 in March after falling to a low of 27 5/8 last July.

All 17 analysts following the stock rate it either a "buy" or "strong buy."

Among other technology companies reporting earnings after the bell Wednesday:

  • Conexent Systems (Nasdaq: CNXT) met Street estimates in its third quarter, earning $51.5 million, or 22 cents a share, on sales of $530.5 million.

    First Call Corp. consensus expected it to earn 22 cents a share in the quarter.

    The $530.5 million in sales represents a 39 percent improvement from the year-ago quarter when it made $25.7 million, or 12 cents a share, on sales of $380.3 million.

    "We are pleased with our overall third-quarter results," said CEO Dwight Decker in a prepared release. "Our networking performance offset essentially flat sequential sales in our wireless communications business which suffered from a significant downturn in CDMA cellular handset sales in Korea."

    Its shares closed off 2 1/2 to 48 15/16 ahead of the earnings report.

  • Symantec (Nasdaq: SYMC) easily hurdled the Street estimate in its first quarter, earning $43 million, or 67 cents a share, on sales of $191.4 million.

    Analysts were looking for a profit of 62 cents a share in the quarter.

    The $191.4 million in sales marks an 18 percent gain from the year-ago quarter when it earned $22.6 million, or 39 cents a share, on sales of $162.7 million.

    Symantec shares closed off 3 1/2 to 47 1/4 ahead of the earnings report.

  • Aspect Communications (Nasdaq: ASPT) surprised Wall Street Wednesday when it posted a profit of $900,000, or 2 cents a share, on sales of $138.4 million.

    First Call Corp. consensus expected it to lose 5 cents a share in the quarter.

    The $138.4 million in sales represents a 23 percent improvement from the year-ago quarter when it lost $8.7 million, or 18 cents a share, on sales of $112.2 million.

    Aspect shares closed off 3/16 to 23 3/4 ahead of the earnings report. >