Analysts Can't Lower priceline.com Estimates Fast Enough

The wolves are out and they're gnawing at

priceline.com

(PCLN)

, which is lying like a wounded animal in the middle of the road.

Goldman Sachs

today downgraded priceline to market perform from market outperform after the company yesterday after the close reported a $2 million loss. That tallies to a loss of 1 cent a share for the third quarter.

The company's highly touted chief financial officer, Heidi Miller, also announced her departure yesterday. And the company is laying off 16% of its workforce.

TheStreet.com

wrote a separate story about

priceline's most recent woes.

And then the Monday morning quarterbacking began.

Merrill Lynch's

Henry Blodget downgraded the stock to a long-term accumulate from buy.

Credit Suisse First Boston

cut earnings estimates on the company for the fourth quarter to a 3-cent loss from a 1-cent profit and it cut priceline.com's 2001 earnings estimate to 3 cents a share from 15 cents.

U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray

lowered its price target on the company to $8 from $12, and increased its loss-per-share estimate to 12 cents from 6 cents for 2000. It also lowered 2001 estimates to earnings of 10 cents a share from 17 cents a share. Despite lowering earnings estimates, both CSFB and U.S. Bancorp expect priceline to be profitable in 2001.

PaineWebber

increased loss estimates for 2000 to 18 cents from 6 cents and moved 2001 earnings estimates to a 6-cent loss from earnings of 22 cents.

Robertson Stephens

increased 2000 loss estimates to 19 cents a share from 7 cents and it dropped its 2001 estimate to a 7-cent loss from 15 cents.

Priceline was lately off 30.6% to $4.25. Its 52-week high was $104.25.