French information-technology services company Capgemini (CAP.FR) Thursday said it now expects like-for-like revenue to fall 4% to 6% in the second half after it reported earnings first-half earnings that missed analysts' expectations.

Net profit in the first half fell 66% to EUR78 million from EUR231 million, below an average EUR124 million forecast by four analysts polled by Dow Jones Newswires.

Net profit was hit as finance expenses more than doubled to EUR39 million from EUR15 million and as income tax expense rose 19% on year to EUR50 million.

However, Earnings before interest and tax, or EBIT, fell to EUR287 million from EUR332 million, slightly above an average EUR282 million forecast by analysts.

Capgemini's first-half EBIT margin was 6.6%

It said that tighter cost control should allow it to achieve an EBIT margin of around 7% of revenue for the full year.

First-half revenue rose slightly to EUR4.38 billion from EUR4.37 billion a year ago and in line with the EUR4.37 billion forecast by analysts.

On a like-for-like basis, stripping out acquisitions, disposals, and currency movements, revenue fell 2.2%.

The company had forecast first half like-for-like revenue to decline around 2% and its margin to come in above 6.5% in the first half of 2009.

Capgemini shares closed Wednesday at EUR28.84. The stock has gained about 4% since the start of the year.

Paris-based Capgemini is Europe's largest computer services company and its customers include banks such as HSBC Holdings PLC (HBC) and carmakers like BMW AG (BMW.XE).

Company Web site: www.capgemini.com

-By Ruth Bender and William Horobin, Dow Jones Newswires; +33 1 40 17 17 40; ruth.bender@dowjones.com