Arbitration Costs Push Core Inc. Into the Red

Core Inc., Irvine provider of employee absence management services, said it lost $1.4 million, or 18 cents a share, for the fourth quarter. The loss included $2.2 million in arbitration costs. For the fourth quarter of 1998, Core earned $778,000, or 9 cents a share. Revenue increased 24% to $16.4 million. Net income for 1999 was $1.7 million, or 21 cents a share, contrasted with a net loss of $3.8 million, or 50 cents a share, for 1998. Revenue increased 41% to $64.1 million.