AT&T Tech Support 360
July 11, 2000 2:30 PM PDT
SCO shares dive on earnings warning
- Related Stories
-
Computer Associates, BMC shares plummet on profit warnings
July 5, 2000 -
SCO expects "significant" quarterly loss
March 21, 2000 -
Santa Cruz Operation strengthens Linux bid
February 22, 2000 -
SCO adds cluster feature to operating system
August 17, 1999
Shares closed down $1.56, or 27 percent, to $4.13.
Yesterday's warning follows financial woes at other corporate software companies such as BMC and Computer Associates.
The company, which sells Unix, its Tarentella thin-client software, and Linux services, warned that revenue will be between $26 million and $28 million and net losses between 50 cents and 55 cents a share for the third quarter, which ended June 30. Analysts surveyed by First Call/Thompson Financial expected a loss of 13 cents.
In the same quarter last year, the company earned $57 million.
Chief executive Doug Michels blamed the loss on the company's server software division. The company's sales channels are recovering slowly from the Year 2000 transition, and several large contracts didn't close as planned, he said in a statement.
Analysts note that SCO has been hurt by the arrival of Linux, a less expensive clone of versions of Unix such as SCO's UnixWare. SCO initially derided Linux, which like SCO's Unix, runs most often on Intel hardware. But SCO has since warmed up to the operating system.
SCO still is positioned to take advantage of trends such as Linux, application service providers, the antitrust case against Microsoft, and the conversion of software into Web services, Michels said. "We are committed to maintaining technical and market leadership in the exciting and challenging times ahead," he said.
The company is in the midst of a previously announced austerity program to cut expenses and conserve cash, chief financial officer Randy Bresee said. The company also has engaged investment bankers Chase H&Q to help SCO set a course for the future.
SCO expects to report results for the quarter on July 25.
