Red Hat posts smaller Q1 net loss

RALEIGH: Red Hat Inc., a distributor of Linux computer operating system
software, on Tuesday posted a smaller first-quarter net loss as sales were
slightly above its forecast.

Including charges, Red Hat posted a net loss of $4.3 million, or 3 cents per
share, compared with a net loss of $27.6 million, or 16 cents, a year earlier.

Excluding charges, the Raleigh, North Carolina-based supplier of Linux, which
can be used and modified freely unlike Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating
system, posted an operating loss of $829,000, or nil per share, for the quarter
ended May 31. That compared with a loss of $154,000, or nil per share, a year
earlier.

Analysts polled by Thomson First Call expected breakeven on a per share-basis
in the quarter, excluding charges. Revenues were $19.5 million, just above
company and analysts' expectations of $19.2 million, but down from $21.4 million
a year earlier.

(C) Reuters Limited.