Sprint Expects Lower 2001 Profit

Sprint Corp. on Friday warned that its profit through 2001 would be lower than expected amid lackluster revenue growth, making it the third long-distance telephone company in 10 days to ratchet down forecasts.

Kansas City, Mo.-based Sprint also said it expects revenue in its wireless-telephone unit, Sprint PCS, to slow over the next two years.

Sprint shares closed up $1.38 at $23.88 on the New York Stock Exchange as investors expressed some relief that the reduced outlook wasn’t even more bleak, analysts said. Sprint’s stock has fallen 66% this year, pushing it to lows unseen since September 1997.

Shares in Sprint PCS, however, plunged $8.06 to close at $28.50.

Sprint has suffered from the same falling prices that have plagued the rest of the telephone industry.