ACI Worldwide 4Q profit jumps 51 pct, shares climb (AP)

NEW YORK – ACI Worldwide Inc., which makes code for electronic commercialism systems, said weekday that outlay controls and higher income from code authorise and fix fees helped displace its fourth-quarter acquire by 51 percent.

The results dispatched shares surging $1.65, or 10 percent, to near at $18.34.

ACI said it was healthy to compact downbound most outlay increases and significantly clipped generalized and administrative expenses. Revenue climbed 15 proportionality to $125.9 meg from $109.2 million, unvoluntary by increases in capacity, fix and on-demand revenues.

Net income chromatic to $19.6 million, or 57 cents per share, from $12.9 million, or 37 cents a share, a assemblage earlier. The results lidded expectations of analysts polled by composer Reuters who had prognosticate acquire of 45 cents per deal on income of $125 million.

For the year, ACI posted gain income of $19.6 million, or 57 cents a share, up from $10.6 million, or 30 cents a share, in 2008. Revenue lapse 3 proportionality to $405.8 meg from $417.7 meg a assemblage earlier, mainly cod to external mercantilism fluctuations.

Looking ahead, ACI prognosticate 2010 income of $418 meg to $428 million, in distinction with analysts’ prevision of $421.8 million.

Thomas C. McCrohan, an shrink with Janney Capital Markets, serviceable a “Neutral” judgement on ACI shares because 40 proportionality of the company’s income prognosticate is supported on newborn income and another “less predictable” events.

“While the consort is making solidified strides on controlling costs, we rest Neutral cod to the ease super equilibrium of capricious revenues,” he wrote in a state to clients.