On March 22, network solutions provider 3Com (NASDAQ:COMS) released third-quarter earnings for the period ended March 2.

  • The government of the People's Republic of China has granted approval for 3Com to complete the acquisition of Huawei Technologies' 49% stake in Huawei-3Com (H3C) for $882 million.
  • The 82% revenue increase was due primarily to consolidation of H3C revenue in the current period.
  • 113 Motley Fool CAPS intelligence database players have rated 3Com as an outperform versus the S&P 500, but that's only enough for a two-star ranking.

(Figures in millions, except per-share data.)

Income Statement Highlights

Q3 2007

Q3 2006

Change

Sales

$323.4

$177.6

82.2%

Net Profit

($4.8)

($32.8)

N/A

EPS

($0.01)

($0.08)

N/A

Diluted Shares

394.4

387.8

1.7%



Get back to basics with the income statement.

Margin Checkup

Q3 2007

Q3 2006

Change*

Gross Margin

47.4%

40.8%

6.7

Operating Margin

(2.8%)

(26.6%)

23.9

Net Margin

(1.5%)

(18.5%)

17.0

*Expressed in percentage points.

Margins are the earnings engine.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Assets

Q3 2007

Q3 2006

Change

Cash + ST Invest.

$956.1

$706.0

35.4%

Accounts Rec.

$144.3

$89.9

60.6%

Inventory

$124.5

$31.1

300.6%



Liabilities

Q3 2007

Q3 2006

Change

Accounts Payable

$128.9

$92.3

39.7%



The balance sheet reflects the company's health.

Cash Flow Highlights
Management stiffed investors on the cash flow statement.

Free cash flow is a Fool's best friend.

Related Foolishness:

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