The company posted a net loss of $37 million, or 8 cents per share, in the first quarter ended December 26, compared with a profit of $949 million, or $1.90 per share, a year earlier.

Excluding charges, Tyco Electronics earned 22 cents a share from continuing operations, 3 cents below analysts' forecasts, according to Reuters Estimates.

Revenue fell 21 percent to $2.81 billion, compared with Wall Street forecasts for sales of $2.93 billion.

The company, which also makes wireless systems and undersea fiber optic networks, said it was operating in an unprecedented environment, and sales to its largest market -- automotive -- fell 31 percent.

(Reporting by Nick Zieminski; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)