Busy day for tech earnings

Like many component makers hurt by the falling cost of desktop computers, disk drive company Western Digital saw its revenue and earnings drop drastically from the year-ago period for the first quarter ended September 26.

The company posted a net loss of $194.7 million or $2.20 per share today, compared with net income of $62.7 million or 67 cents a share reported for the like quarter a year ago. Excluding special charges related to its warranty reserves, Western Digital posted a loss of $110.2 million or $1.24 per share--in line with analysts' estimates.

According to First Call, Wall Street was anticipating a loss of $1.24 a share.

Western Digital's quarterly revenue fell sharply to $650.9 million from $1.09 billion last year.

In other earnings news, network security and antivirus software maker Network Associates reported better-than-expected third-quarter income today.

The company posted a net loss of $132.1 million or 99 cents a share, compared with net income of $11.5 million or 9 cents per share reported for the same period a year ago. Before charges related to Network Associates' August acquisition of Dr Solomon's, the company reported income of $59.8 million or 41 cents a share on a pro forma basis, compared with pro forma income of $35.2 million or 27 cents a share posted for the like quarter a year ago.

Financial analysts had predicted that Network Associates would earn 38 cents per share, according to First Call.

The company's quarterly revenues rose to $242.4 million from $182 million reported for the like quarter a year ago.

Among Internet companies, online auctioneer Onsale today reported a widening third-quarter financial loss that was in line with analysts expectations.

The company posted a net loss of $3.3 million or 17 cents per share, compared with a net loss of $600,000 or 3 cents a share reported for the same period last year.

Wall Street was expecting the company to lose 17 cents a share, according to First Call.

Onsale's quarterly revenue rose to $57.8 million from $25.1 million a year ago.

Professional services and software firm Compuware reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings for the quarter ended September 30.

The company posted net income of $69.8 million or 35 cents a share. Excluding charges from its purchase of CenterLine Software, Compuware posted income of $71.6 million or 36 cents a share, compared with net income of $34.7 million or 18 cents a share reported for the like quarter a year ago.

Financial analysts had expected the company to report profits of 32 cents a share, according to First Call.

Compuware's quarterly revenues rose to $366.6 million from $247.4 million last year.

Client-server computing company Citrix reported a better-than-expected third quarter profit today, besting Wall Street's estimates by 2 cents, before charges.

Citrix, whose products allow companies to offer software applications off a centralized server, posted net income of $15.7 million or 34 cents a share, compared with net income of $13.1 million or 30 cents a share reported for the like quarter a year ago. Excluding an acquisition-related charge, the company had income of $20.3 million or 44 cents per share. Analysts had expected a profit of 42 cents per share from Citrix, according to First Call.

The company's quarterly revenue nearly doubled to $67.6 million from $34.9 million reported a year ago.