Dassault Systemes raises 2007 revenue goal
(Adds details from statement)
PARIS, July 26 (Reuters) - French software company Dassault Systemes (DAST.PA) raised its 2007 revenue goal after it posted a forecast-beating 24 percent rise in second-quarter earnings on Thursday, helped by continued growth at its SolidWorks unit.
Dassault Systemes, whose clients include world leading companies such as Boeing (BA.N), Toyota (7203.T) and Sony (6758.T), kept its earnings per share and operating margin target for the full year unchanged.
The company posted non-GAAP second-quarter earnings per share of 0.42 euros, up from 0.37 euros in the similar quarter last year.
Revenue rose 8 percent to 308.8 million euros ($426.5 million), driven by software sales and services revenue, with strength in all geographic regions.
A Reuters poll of 10 analysts forecast on average earnings per share (EPS) of 0.39 euros and revenue of 302.4 million euros.
"Our revenue results translated into strong growth in EPS in spite of the persistently strong currency headwinds," Chief Financial Officer Thibault de Tersant said in the statement.
Operating margin as a percentage of sales declined to 23.4 percent from 24.5 percent due partly to the integration of the MatrixOne takeover and costs from a deal with computer maker IBM (IBM.N).
All the figures are on a non-GAAP basis, which is before acquisition costs and deferred revenue write-downs.
Citing the strong second-quarter performance and the acquisition of the ICEM firm, Dassault said it now targeted 2007 non-GAAP revenue growth of about 14-15 percent at constant currency against a previous target of 13 percent growth and reported revenue in a range of 1.285 billion euros to 1.3 billion euros.
It kept its targets for full-year 2007 non-GAAP EPS of 2.00 to 2.05 euros, representing an increase of between 9 percent and 12 percent from 2006.
It also kept its goal for a 2007 operating margin of about 27 percent.
This assumes an unchanged exchange rate of $1.35 for one euro but a new 165 yen for one euro rate. The previous assumption was 160 yen for one euro.
((Writing by Dominique Vidalon, editing by Will Waterman; Reuters Messaging: rm://dominique.vidalon.reuters.com@reuters.net; email: dominique.vidalon@reuters.com; Telephone: +33 1 49495432))
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