Adobe Systems Inc.’s profit rose 41 percent in the second quarter because of strong sales and booming demand in international markets.
For the three months ended May 30, the maker of Photoshop design software and the Acrobat publishing tool reported Monday that it earned $214.9 million, or 40 cents per share, compared to $152.5 million, or 25 cents per share, in the same quarter a year ago.
Excluding special items, the software maker reported income of $272.7 million, or 50 cents a share, compared to $223.2 million, or 37 cents a share in the same quarter a year ago.
On that same basis, analysts polled by Thomson Financial had predicted, on average, earnings per share of 46 cents on revenue of $880 million.
Actual revenue beat those expectations at $886.9 million, up 19 percent from $745.6 million a year ago.
Sales in foreign markets with stronger currencies than the dollar translated into more dollars for Adobe. About 5 percent of second-quarter revenue, or $44 million, came as a result of positive foreign exchange rates, Chief Financial Officer Mark Garrett told investors in a conference call.
More than half Adobe’s sales some from overseas.
Emerging markets in Eastern Europe, Brazil and China offer great opportunities for growth as software piracy declines, Chief Executive Shantanu Narayen said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Narayen said the company’s positive performance results from burgeoning demand for digital content and from the fact that both Adobe’s geographic reach and its product mix are very diversified.
“The amount of video that’s being used on the Web continues to explode, and I think frankly we are very early in people using video on the web,” Narayen said. “The desire to continue to consume personalized content is going to continue for a long time.”
The San Jose-Calif.-based company expects third-quarter earnings of 34 cents to 36 cents…