Computer Sciences: S&P Intraday Laggard

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Computer Sciences(CSC) was the worst-performing stock in the S&P 500 on Wednesday morning.

The S&P 500 was rising 15.76 points, or 1.16%, to 1,374.35.

Shares of Computer Sciences fell 5.96% to $26.50.

The company said it expects revenue of about $4.1 billion for the fourth quarter and $15.9 billion for the year. It said it expects a fourth-quarter loss of 92 cents to 96 cents a share, or earnings on an adjusted basis of between 19 cents and 21 cents a share.

The company said it would record a charge of $9.91 a share in fiscal 2012 on uncertainty surrounding a contract with the U.K.'s National Health Service. The information technology company withdrew its 2012 guidance in December because of uncertainty over the pact with the NHS.

Computer Sciences said it expects a full-year loss of between $27.27 and $27.31 a share, or profit of $2.45 to $2.49 a share on an adjusted basis.

Analysts, on average, forecast fourth-quarter revenue of $4.11 billion and earnings of 96 cents a share; estimates for full-year revenue are $16 billion and earnings of $4.30 a share.

Computer Sciences has an estimated price-to-earnings ratio for next year of 7.7 times; the average for computer services firms is 23.21. For comparison, both VeriSign(VRSN) and Equinix(EQIX) have higher forward P/Es of 17.48 and 42.1, respectively.

Ten of the 14 analysts who cover Computer Sciences rated it hold. Three analysts gave the stock a sell rating and one rated it buy.