ComScore posts lower 2Q profit as costs grow

RESTON, Va. (AP) - Research firm comScore Inc., which tracks Web traffic, said Thursday its second-quarter profit declined as marketing, research and other expenses grew.

The company earned $825,000, or 3 cents per share, down 30 percent from $1.2 million, or 4 cents per share, in the same period a year earlier.

Revenue rose 34 percent to $42 million from $31.4 million.

Analysts, on average, were expecting a profit of 4 cents per share on revenue of $39.6 million, according to a poll by Thomson Reuters.

The company said both existing and new customers drove the quarter's revenue higher. ComScore added 72 new customers during the period.

Expenses rose 39 percent to $40.2 million from $28.9 million.

For the third quarter, comScore forecast revenue in the range of $44.3 million to $45.1 million. Analysts are expecting $42.8 million.