ComScore posts lower 2nd-qtr earnings as expenses grew, but revenue, forecast top expectations

ComScore posts lower 2Q net income as costs grow

RESTON, Va. — Research firm comScore Inc., which tracks Web traffic, said Thursday its second-quarter profit declined as marketing, research and other expenses grew.

But the company’s revenue and its outlook for the current quarter were better than Wall Street was expecting and comScore’s shares rose in morning trading.

The company earned $825,000, or 3 cents per share, down 30 percent from $1.2 million, or 4 cents per share, in the same period a year earlier.

Revenue rose 34 percent to $42 million from $31.4 million.

Analysts, on average, were expecting a profit of 4 cents per share on revenue of $39.6 million, according to a poll by Thomson Reuters.

The company said both existing and new customers drove the quarter’s revenue higher. ComScore added 72 new customers during the period.

Expenses rose 39 percent to $40.2 million from $28.9 million.

The company said its revenue and adjusted net income before interest, depreciation and amortization were “well above” its forecast.

For the third quarter, comScore expects to earn $44.3 million to $45.1 million. Analysts are expecting $42.8 million.

ComScore shares rose 99 cents, or 5.5 percent, to $19 in morning trading. The stock between $12.64 and $19.58 the past year.