UPDATE 1-Computer Sciences profit rises on commercial unit

Mon Feb 4, 2008 5:03pm EST
 
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(Adds share movement, 4th-quarter forecast)

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Computer Sciences Corp (CSC.N) on Monday posted higher-than-expected profit on strong demand in its commercial business, especially in Europe.

Net income in the technology services company's fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 28 rose to $179 million, or $1.05 per share, from $113.5 million, or 65 cents per share, a year earlier.

Revenue advanced to $4.16 billion from $3.64 billion. Earnings excluding restructuring costs of 6 cents per share were $1.11, exceeding the $1.00 average estimate of analysts surveyed by Reuters Estimates.

Analysts had expected revenue of $4.08 billion.

Shares of Computer Sciences, down 15 percent this year through Friday, slipped 7 cents in extended trading following the earnings report after closing down 5 cents at $42.09 on the New York Stock Exchange.

Computer Sciences, which earns more than a third of its revenue from the U.S. government and helps run Internal Revenue Service computers, in December forecast better-than-expected third-quarter revenue of $4 billion to $4.2 billion and earnings per share before items of 95 cents to $1.05.

The company, which is moving its headquarters from El Segundo, California, to Falls Church, Virginia, said revenue from commercial customers rose nearly 18 percent to $2.73 billion, with European revenue climbing nearly 21 percent.

Computer Sciences said it is "on track" to achieve its fiscal-year profit target. For its fiscal fourth quarter, Computer Sciences forecast earnings per share of $1.33 to $1.43 before special items and revenue of $4.2 billion to $4.5 billion.

Analysts, on average, expect fourth-quarter earnings before certain items of $1.47 and revenue of $4.41 billion. (Reporting by Philipp Gollner; editing by Carol Bishopric)

 
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