A day after posting a first-quarter operating loss of nine cents a share -- its first operating loss in 15 years -- Motorola said the loss would probably be a "few cents" more in the second quarter (all figures in U.S. currency).
Motorola predicted in a post-earnings-report teleconference that second-quarter sales would be more than in the first quarter but less than the second quarter of 2000. And it said it expected to be back in profit mode by the end of the year.
Beyond that, Motorola said it was leaving its guidance for the current quarter and year "general" because of uncertainty about the economy.
Motorola's stock closed Wednesday down 10 cents at $12.90.
Motorola's earnings report had come in two cents under analysts' average estimate. The world's second-largest mobile phone maker blamed weakness across all of its business units due to the downturn in the U.S. economy.
Motorola said it lost $206 million from ongoing operations in the first quarter, or nine cents a share, excluding special items, compared with a profit of $481 million, or 21 cents, a year ago.
Revenue for the period ending March 31 fell 11%, to $7.8 billion from $8.8 billion a year ago.
Motorola rivals, Nokia, the world's largest mobile phone maker, and Ericsson, No. 3 in the world, are expected to report on their latest quarter April 20. Both companies have issued warnings for the first quarter, citing sales slowdowns.
