IRVINE, Calif., Jan 30 (Reuters) - Internet car seller Autobytel Inc. said on Thursday it swung to a fourth-quarter net profit despite a slip in revenue from a year earlier.
Irvine, California-based Autobytel reported a fourth-quarter net profit of $500,000, or 1 cent a share, compared with a year-earlier net loss of $900,000, or 3 cents a share. Revenues were $20 million, compared with $20.5 million a year earlier.
Autobytel, which is in a used-car sales tie-up with name-your-own-price travel service Priceline.com Inc. , said it posted earnings before charges of $1 million, or 3 cents a share, compared with year-earlier earnings before items of $200,000, or 1 cent a share.
Autobytel said that during the fourth quarter it received about 800,000 purchase requests, with revenue per request for program dealers of $21.28, compared with $20.38 in the third quarter.