ComScore 4Q profit falls as tax gain inflates year-ago quarter, buys advertising research firm

ComScore 4Q profit falls, buys ad research firm

RESTON, Va. — ComScore Inc., which tracks Web site traffic, on Wednesday said fourth-quarter earnings fell by 92 percent mainly due to a hefty tax gain recorded in the prior year. It also said it was buying ad research firm ARSgroup for an undisclosed amount in cash.

ComScore earned $1.6 million, or 5 cents per share, compared with a profit of $20.4 million, or 67 cents per share, in the same period a year earlier. The 2008 quarter included a tax benefit of $20.4 million.

Excluding the tax gain and other one-time items, ComScore earned $6.5 million, or 21 cents per share, up 18 percent from $5.5 million, or 18 cents per share, in the 2008 quarter.

Revenue rose by 7 percent to $33.8 million, up from $31.6 million.

Results exceeded the 4 cents per share in earnings forecast by analysts polled by Thomson Reuters. They also expected revenue of $33.7 million.

The company, based in Reston, Va., said corporate budgets are improving and demand has been picking up.

For the year, comScore earned $4 million, or 13 cents per share, compared with a profit of $25.2 million, or 83 cents per share, in 2008. Revenue rose to $127.7 million from $117.4 million.

For the first quarter, comScore said it expects to record revenue of $34.2 million to $36 million. Analysts are expecting $34.4 million.

The company also said the ARSgroup acquisition should close in March.

Shares of comScore were up 38 cents, or 2.9 percent, to $13.40 in after-hours trading. The stock rose by 9 cents to $13.02 during Wednesday’s regular session.