Sybase Sees Modest Growth Ahead After 4Q Sales DropSybase Sees Modest Growth Ahead After 4Q Sales Drop

Despite hints of improving sales at the close of 2001, Sybase Inc. CEO John Chen remains cautious. "A lot of people say they see robustness coming back," Chen said in an interview last week. "I don't see it." He forecast 5% revenue growth for Sybase (SY--NYSE) this year, with sales of application-integration, portal, and mobile database and messaging software leading the way. Sybase turned a profit of $6.1 million for the quarter ended Dec. 31, down from net income of $35.5 million a year ago. Revenue fell more than 9%, to $236.3 million, from $260.5 million last year. But sales increased 4% from the quarter ended Sept. 30.