Earnings Roundup: Lionbridge, Semitool top estimates

Jan. 2, 2002 4:43 p.m. PT

2 min read

Lionbridge Technologies posted a smaller-than-expected loss in its third quarter Tuesday, losing 2 cents a share on sales of $30.3 million.

First Call Corp. consensus expected the provider of multilingual Internet services to lose 4 cents a share in the quarter.

Lionbridge (Nasdaq: LIOX) shares finished up $1.38 to $9.88 ahead of the earnings report.

The $30.3 million in sales marks a 29 percent improvement from the year-ago quarter when it posted a net loss of $9.6 million, or 73 cents a share, on sales of $23.6 million.

"Our global infrastructure of 20 solution centers in 11 countries is providing powerful financial leverage despite the continued decline in the value of the euro," said CEO Rory Cowan in a prepared release. "Our business model is strengthening faster than anticipated."

Including a variety of charges, Lionbridge reported a net loss of $2.8 million, or 10 cents a share, in the quarter.

Last quarter, it checked in with a loss of $7.6 million, or 33 cents a share, on sales of $28.9 million.

The stock peaked at $218 in January before falling to a 52-week low of $6.50 earlier this month.

All three analysts following the stock rate it a "strong buy."

Among other technology companies reporting earnings after the bell Tuesday:

Semitool (Nasdaq: SMTL) had no trouble topping the Street estimate in its fourth quarter Tuesday, raking in $8.6 million, or 30 cents a share, on sales of $70.7 million.

Analysts expected the semiconductor-equipment maker to earn 27 cents a share in the quarter.

The stock closed up 88 cents to $13.06 ahead of the earnings report.

The $70.7 million in sales marks a 94 percent improvement from the year-ago quarter when it earned $98,000 on sales of $36.5 million.

For the fiscal year, Semitool pocketed $24.4 million, or 85 cents a share, on sales of $239.4 million.

V3 Semiconductor (Nasdaq: VVVI) reported a loss of $200,000, or 4 cents a share, on sales of $2.8 million in its fourth quarter.

There was no First Call Corp. consensus estimate for V3 this quarter.

The stock closed up $1.13 to $14.25 ahead of the earnings report.

The $2.8 million sales represents a 27 percent improvement from the year-ago quarter when it earned $100,000, or a penny a share, on sales of $2.2 million.