Lionbridge shrinks loss

Lionbridge Technologies Inc., which translates software and Web content to help companies operate internationally, today posted a smaller third-quarter loss amid higher sales.

But the quarter's sales and the company's revenue outlook fell below Wall Street's expectations, and shares tumbled in midday trading.

The company posted a net loss of $666,000, or a penny per share, compared with a loss of $933,000, or 2 cents per share, in the same period a year earlier.

Adjusted earnings, excluding stock options, restructuring and other costs, as well as the amortization of intangible assets, were 6 cents per share for the latest quarter.

Revenue rose 3 percent to $111.5 million from $108 million.

Analysts, on average, were expecting a profit of 4 cents per share on sales of $115.3 million, according to a poll by Thomson Financial. The estimates included stock options costs, but analysts generally exclude one-time items from their estimates.

Lionbridge said it is "confident" in its prospects for top line growth and margin expansion.

The company expects fourth-quarter sales between $107 million and $111 million, below the $113.7 million analysts are predicting.

For the full year, Lionbridge expects sales to grow by 6 percent to 10 percent over the expected 2007 revenue.

Shares fell 85 cents, or 18.9 percent, to $3.64 in midday trading. In the past 52 weeks, the stock has traded between $3.40 and $6.66. (AP)