HUNTSVILLE (dpa-AFX) - Adtran Holding has again missed expectations on sales in the third quarter. Based on preliminary figures, the lot was 272.3 million U.S. dollars (258.4 million euros), below the previously announced forecast range of August, as the parent of telecom equipment manufacturer Adtran Networks (formerly Adva Optical) announced Tuesday night in Huntsville (U.S. state of Alabama). The holding company had already indicated in August that sales were likely to fall short of average analyst expectations by up to one-fifth - even that figure has now been missed. The operating profit margin for the three months to the end of September was -1.9 percent, within the announced range.

Although the number of customers increased in the third quarter, the holding company further announced. However, management said it expects customers to continue to manage inventories and budgets conservatively. The board plans to release the full set of figures on Nov. 7. Both Adtran Holding and Adtran Networks are listed on the SDax./ngu/stk