Card Brief: Fair Isaac Revenue Tops Prediction; Margin Shrinks

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. - Fair, Isaac & Co. said it exceeded revenue forecasts for its first fiscal quarter, which ended Dec. 31, but saw a decline in its operating margin.

The consumer information and predictive scoring company boosted revenues by $4.6 million, or 21%, to $25.6 million. Net income rose by 23%, to $2.82 million, and by eight cents a share, to 45 cents.

It was the 15th consecutive quarterly earnings report in which Fair Isaac improved over the year-earlier period.

President and chief executive officer Larry E. Rosenberger credited much of the recent growth to demand from the bank card industry for soliciting and screening new customers and managing existing accounts.

Though first-quarter revenues were slightly above the record $25.5 million of the preceding three months, the profit margin slipped from 18% to 17% of revenues, and earnings per share were down three cents. The lower margin was "as expected," Mr. Rosenberger said. The company is building staff and infrastructure to keep up with its tripling of revenues over three years.