Radiant Systems Lights Up Guidance

Radiant Systems (RADS Quote) surged 52% in late trading after the technology company boosted 2006 guidance.

The Atlanta-based provider of technology for the hospitality, convenience-store and entertainment industries made $731,000, or 2 cents a share, down from the year-ago $804,000, or 3 cents a share. Revenue rose to $46.8 million from $36.3 million a year earlier.

"We are very pleased with our performance in the quarter," CEO John Heyman said. "Our hospitality division continues to show strong growth and will be bolstered by the addition of the MenuLink organization and products, which greatly enhance the value we can provide to restaurant operators. Additionally we saw a significant increase in spending from major oil companies during the quarter, driven by our traditional point of sale offerings and our new Outdoor Payment Terminal product line."

The company said it expects to make 11 cents a share on revenue of $44.5 million for the fourth quarter and 50 cents a share on revenue of $200 million last year. Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call had been looking for a 12-cent profit on $44 million in sales for the fourth quarter and a 45-cent profit on sales of $189 million for next year.

Late Thursday, Radiant shares jumped $4.81 to $13.95.