EchoStar’s Subscriber Gains Trail Analysts’ Estimates

Englewood, Colo.-based EchoStar Communications [Nasdaq: DISH] added approximately 285,000 net new subscribers during the third quarter, but that level fell short of Wall Street’s consensus estimates of between 300,000 to 325,000 net new subscribers. The company had a total of approximately 9 million subscribers at the end of the quarter.

Total revenue rose to $1.45 billion, a 19 percent increase from $1.22 billion for the corresponding period in 2002. Net income soared to $35 million for the quarter, compared to a net loss of $168 million during the same period in 2002. Basic earnings per share climbed to 7 cents for the quarter, compared to a per share loss of 35 cents for the third quarter of 2002.

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