i2 tops fourth quarter forecasts

i2 Technologies (Nasdaq: ITWO) topped analysts' raised expectations by a penny in the fourth quarter.

After market close Wednesday, the vendor of supply chain management and business-to-business marketplace software reported fourth quarter net income of $44 million, or 9 cents per share, excluding amortization and special charges. Analyst consensus predicted a profit of 8 cents per share on revenue of $349.9 million, according to earnings tracking firm First Call.

"We clearly haven't seen a slowdown in our business so far, and we expect that our value proposition ... positions us as a strategic investment to improve competitiveness even during slower economic growth," said Sanjiv Sidhu, chairman and CEO.

Shares of i2 traded at 55.25 in afterhours activity on the Island electronics trading network, immediately following the release of quarterly results. i2 gained 5.703125 to 53.875 in Wednesday's regular trading ahead of the earnings report.

Including amortization, acquisition-related charges, expenses tied to stock compensation and losses from minority investments, i2 in the fourth quarter lost $727 million, or $1.80 per share.

Fourth quarter revenue increased 116 percent year-over-year to $378 million, in line with the company's forecast. i2 recently said it expected fourth quarter revenue to top $370 million. About 36 percent of i2's overall revenue came from outside the United States.

License revenue increased 120 percent year-over-year to $244 million, 47 percent coming from high tech companies, 22 percent from consumer goods and retail and 17 percent from automotive and industrial firms. Existing customers generated 62 percent of i2's license revenue.

For the full year, i2 earned $108.4 million, or 26 cents per share, excluding special charges. The company reported 2000 revenue of $1.13 billion.

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