VARBusiness 500 Companies Rebound

There's a distinct whiff of recovery in the air, according to recent financials from North America's largest solution providers. Indeed, for the second quarter ended June 30, 2003, VARBusiness 500 net profits expanded 115 percent from the previous quarter, as indicated by a cross section of companies from our 2003 VARBusiness 500 listing.

That's a healthy bounce because it comes after a quarter of heavy losses for some listed in our exclusive VBII of publicly traded companies. Of note, ON Technology (VB500 406) attributes its first-quarter 2003 loss to lengthening sales cycles, which were most likely a result of an uncertain economy and operating environment, as does Numerex (VB500 462).

Showing signs of a turnaround, 75 percent of the 20 companies monitored by the VBII displayed a net income gain of 3 percent or more from April through June over the first three months of 2003.