Advanced Radio Telecom tops estimates but sales slip

Advanced Radio Telecom posted a smaller-than-expected loss in its third quarter Monday but its total sales fell 32 percent from the year-ago quarter.

In the quarter, the provider of broadband services to carriers and service providers posted a loss, excluding charges, of $10.4 million, or 49 cents a share, on sales of $243,000.

First Call Corp. consensus expected the Bellevue, Wash. company to lose 72 cents a share in the quarter.

Ahead of the earnings report, Advanced Radio Telecom (Nasdaq: ARTT) shares closed off 16 cents to $4.38.

In the year-ago quarter, it lost $8.9 million, or 66 cents a share, on sales of $359,000.

Including a variety of one-time charges, Advanced Radio Telecom posted a net loss of $16.3 million, or $1.71 a share.

"I am excited about the opportunity for broadband wireless services," said CEO Wharton Rivers, Jr. in a prepared release. "We are currently evaluating our strategy to determine the best way to realize that opportunity. Our primary focus now is to drive revenue through customer traffic on our networks in existing markets rather than through rapid geographic expansion."

Its shares moved up to a high of $49.25 in March before swooning to a low of $3.06 in October.

Three of the five analysts following the stock maintain either a "buy" or "strong buy" recommendation.

Analysts are projecting a loss of $2.81 a share in the fiscal year.