Guidance Software Inc. said on Thursday it had a loss of $2.68 million or 12 cents a share on the first quarter from $1.86 million or 8 cents a share the previous year.

Revenue of the software developer and provider company in the period climbed 23 percent to $21.7 million compared to $17.6 million the previous year.

Analysts estimated a loss of 2 cents a share with revenue of $20 million according to Thomson Reuters.

Guidance Software projected earnings for 2008 of 11 cents or 24 cents a share on revenue of $94 million to $99 million, lower than analysts earnings forecast of 21 cents a share on revenue of $97 million for the year.

Software