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AOL posts higher 4Q net income but revenue slides
BARBARA ORTUTAY - The Associated Press

07:07:00PM (ET) Wednesday,February 2,2011.

NEW YORK (AP) — Internet company AOL Inc. says its fourth-quarter net income grew from a year-ago period weighed down by hefty restructuring costs, but revenue fell sharply on weak advertising sales. The company sought to reassure investors that its turnaround is well on its way toward fruition and said it will start to see growth in the second half of the year.

"A year ago we were dealing with a 'sick company' and laying off 30 percent of our work force," said CEO Tim Armstrong in a conference call with analysts on Wednesday. "We have come a long way and our journey is just beginning."

AOL's advertising revenue plunged 29 percent during the quarter to $331.6 million. Of this, ad revenue at AOL's properties fell 23 percent to $247.5 million and third-party network ad revenue tumbled 43 percent to $84.1 million as AOL shut down European businesses and shifted focus away from lower-margin products.

Armstrong said he sees 2011 as a "comeback year" for AOL as it finishes working on its turnaround and starts expanding its ad business in the second half of the year. In an interview, he said signs that the reorganization is working include AOL's "evolving great culture," and the great talent that the company is fostering. He added that AOL has been able to increase pricing around its ads, which means demand is growing.

AOL said its net income for the October-December quarter totaled $66.2 million, or 61 cents per share. That's up from $1.4 million, or a penny per share, in the same quarter a year ago, when the company booked $106.3 million in restructuring expenses tied to its split from Time Warner Inc. and its efforts to shift the focus of its business.

Revenue fell 26 percent to $596 million from $806.7 million. The company attributed a big chunk of this decline to changes it is making to turn its business around, including the selling of unprofitable units, including European operations and the social network Bebo. Search and display ad revenue also declined.

Even so, AOL's results surpassed Wall Street's expectations. Analysts polled by FactSet had expected a profit of 52 cents per share and revenue of $589.7 million. Analysts had been expecting a bumpy quarter from AOL amid its reorganization, which has included acquiring new businesses, launching and relaunching websites, rolling out a new Web advertising system and laying off employees.


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* AOL's restructuring is paying off @ this time.
Using Google helps a bit. *

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