Computer Associates International has lowered its
guidance for the rest of its financial year, indicating it sees
continuing problems ahead.
The software maker reported revenue of $860m (£468m), up 9% from
last year's quarter.
CA initially expected revenue of $865m to $885m for the quarter,
but reduced that forecast earlier this month.
The company blamed weak performance by its services business and
effects of its subscription accounting for the shortfall. A
higher-than-anticipated number of subscription contract renewals,
which shifts revenue to later quarters, reduced the subscription
revenue recorded in the current one, according to executives. The
quarter, the first of CA's 2005 financial year, ended on 30
June.
CA's net income for the quarter was $53m up from $8m in the same
quarter a year ago.
CA trimmed its revenue expectations for the ongoing quarter,
which ends on 30 September, to $830m to $850m.
CA cut its full-year revenue forecast to between $3.4bn and
$3.5bn. It had earlier predicted full-year revenue of $3.5bn to
$3.7bn.
CA's services business turned in a 7% drop in revenue, to $55m,
rather than the double-digit percentage growth CA had expected,
said its chief operating officer Jeff Clarke. The company will make
changes there, including altering its sales incentive plans, he
said.
While services revenue was weaker than expected, the remaining
gap in CA's lowered revenue expectations came from accounting
issues, not sales shortfalls, Clarke said. The company has adjusted
its forecasts to account for the increase in subscription renewals
and the resulting extended billing timeframe.
"We didn't see the challenges closing business that many other
people in the industry saw," Clarke said. "Budgets are tight. It's
very competitive out there, but I believe we're holding our
own."
Interim chief executive officer Ken Cron said he was pleased
with CA's "solid" results and revenue growth.
Executives had no news about CA's progress in reaching a
settlement with the government over an extensive accounting fraud
carried out several years ago, which led to charges against a
number of former company executives. Chairman Lewis Ranieri
continues to lead negotiations on that front, Cron said.
CA spent $11m during the quarter, and has spent $47m to date, on
the accounting investigation.
Stacy Cowley writes for IDG News Service