JDA Software forecasts beating first-quarter expectations

JDA Software forecasts beating first-quarter expectations Supply chain software firm JDA Software Group said Monday it expects to firmly beat first-quarter Wall Street earnings estimates.
   Analysts' average estimates were $87.75 million, while JDA is predicting first-quarter revenue will be in the range of $89.7 million to $90.7 million.
   A 2006 fourth-quarter profit warning from JDA led to speculation that the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based firm was having problems successfully integrating the $213 million acquisition of software firm Manugistics in July 2006.
   However, Hamish Brewer, chief executive officer, said, 'the positive impact of Manugistics with strong year-over-year growth in sales of the heritage JDA products' had provided JDA with a 'flying start to the year.'
   Preliminary JDA figures for the first quarter include revenues of $36.5 million from Manugistics, including $4.2 million in software revenue. JDA expects the total first-quarter figure would be at least 87 percent higher than the year-ago period.