Sykes Enterprises 2nd-qtr profit more than doubles

For the period ended June 30, the company reported net income of $17.7 million, or 43 cents per share, compared with $6.3 million, or 16 cents per share, in the year-ago period.

Analysts polled by Thomson Financial, on average, expected earnings of 30 cents per share.

Revenue rose 23 percent to $207.6 million from $168.3 million.

Revenue from the company's Americas segment, which includes operations in North America, Latin America and the Asia Pacific, increased 22 percent to $137.5 million, reflecting growing demand in the technology, financial services and transportation sectors.

Revenue from the Europe, Middle East and Africa region jumped 27 percent to $70.1 million, boosted in part by a stronger euro.

Corporate costs declined 6 percent to $9.6 million from $10.2 million in the same period last year, due to lower stock-based compensation costs and professional fees.

Shares slipped 10 cents to close at $17.93, but rose in after-hours trading, jumping $1.02, or 5.7 percent, to $18.95.