(RTTNews) - Outsourced customer contact management solutions and service provider Sykes Enterprises, Inc. (SYKE: News ) reported Monday a 3.6% year-over-year decline in profit for the third quarter, hurt by a significant drop other income, despite a 3.1% revenue growth. Earnings per share for the quarter was down a penny, but significantly topped analysts' expectations. The company also issued its fourth-quarter guidance and raised its outlook for the full year 2009.

The Tampa, Florida-based company reported net income of $18.78 million or $0.46 per share for the third quarter, down from $19.49 million or $0.47 per share in the prior-year quarter.

On average, eight analysts polled by Thomson Reuters estimated earnings of $0.34 per share for the third quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Revenues for the quarter increased 3.1% to $213.49 million from $207.07 million in the same quarter last year. Ten Wall Street analysts had a consensus revenue estimate of $211.96 million for the quarter. The strengthening of U.S. dollar negatively impacting revenues by $8.8 million. On a constant currency basis, revenues were up 7.4%.

Revenues from the Americas region rose 10.4% to $152.94 million or 71.6% of total revenues, while Europe, Middle East and Africa region revenues decreased 11.6% to $60.55 million, representing 28.4% of total revenues.

Income from operations for the third quarter grew to $20.69 million from $19.25 million in the prior-year quarter. Net other income for the quarter dropped to $0.48 million from $3.96 million in the year-ago quarter.
For the nine-month period, the company reported net income of $47.90 million or $1.17 per share, down from $52.93 million or $1.29 per share in the prior-year period.

Revenues for the period increased to $625.57 million from $618.42 million in the same period last year.

Looking ahead to the fourth quarter, the company expects earnings in a range of $0.32 to $0.35 per share on revenues between $213 million to $215 million. Analysts expect the company to report earnings of $0.34 per share for the quarter, on revenues of $211.96 million.

For fiscal 2009, the company raised its expects earnings forecast to a range of $1.49 to $1.52 per share on revenues between $839 million to $841 million from the prior earnings guidance in the range of $1.33 to $1.39 per share, and revenue forecast of $833 million to $837 million. The Street is looking for full year earnings of $1.38 per share on revenues of $836.49 million.

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