Autodesk’s cuts set stage for growth

Article Excerpt

AUTODESK INC. $24 (Nasdaq symbol ADSK; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 229.7 million; Market cap: $5.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.8; WSSF Rating: Average) earned $56.7 million, or $0.24 a share, in its second quarter, which ended July 31, 2009. That’s down 56.5% from $130.3 million, or $0.56 a share, a year earlier. These figures exclude costs related to Autodesk’s plan to cut 14% of its workforce in response to lower demand for its 3D-design software. This should save Autodesk $250 million a year, starting next year. Revenue fell 33.0%, to $414.9 million from $619.5 million. However, new government spending on infrastructure projects should spur architectural and engineering firms to buy more of Autodesk’s products. Autodesk is a buy. buy…