Sohu expects Q4 earnings to beat estimates

Sohu.com Inc, operator of China's second-biggest Web portal, forecast fourth-quarter earnings that beat analysts' estimates on rising advertising sales.

Sohu predicted earnings per share of between $1.20 and $1.25 this quarter, more than the $1.05 average estimate of seven analysts in a survey compiled by Bloomberg. Third-quarter profit more than quadrupled to $1.02 a share, from 25 cents, a year earlier, the company said in a statement yesterday.

Sohu's agreement to operate the official website of the Beijing Olympics helped it win Chinese consumers, defying a slowdown in sales growth for the global advertising industry. The Beijing-based company added new monsters and weapons to its online role-playing games, luring more players.