First Consulting Says It’s Short on Staff, Profit

First Consulting Group Inc., a consultant to hospitals and pharmaceutical companies in North America and Europe, said it probably will have a first-quarter loss because of a staff shortage. Long Beach-based First Consulting forecast a loss of 5 cents to 7 cents a share, contrasted with earnings of 16 cents a year earlier. Analysts had expected per-share earnings of 8 cents. The company said revenue will be $63 million to $65 million in the first quarter, less than it expected. Sales in the year-ago quarter were $58.9 million. First Consulting said staffing was reduced by 106 employees in the last two quarters, leading to a drop in the amount of work charged to clients. The company didn’t say how the employees left the company. Shares of First Consulting rose $1.63 to close at $16.63 on Nasdaq.