First Call consensus expected it to earn 32 cents a share in the quarter.
Ahead of the earnings report, Dallas Semiconductor (NYSE: DS) shares closed up 1 15/16 to 35 1/8.
The US$118.1 million in sales represents a 33 percent improvement from the year-ago quarter when it earned US$15.2 million, or 25 cents a share, on sales of US$88.6 million.
"As we begin the second quarter, we're starting with a record 90-day backlog of US$70 million, up US$10 million compared to the first quarter," said CEO Vin Prothro in a prepared release. "As a result, we are optimistic for continued growth in the near-term"
Company officials said its communications-chip business grew 90 percent from the year-ago quarter while its mixed-signal chips and network-computing unit improved 29 percent and 9 percent, respectively.
Dallas Semiconductor shares hit a 52-week high of 49 in March, shortly after announcing a 2-for-1 stock split. It bottomed out at 20 3/16 last April.
Seven of the eight analysts tracking the stock rate it either a "buy" or "strong buy."
Among other technology firms reporting earnings Thursday:
Avanex Corp. (Nasdaq: AVNX) got off on the right foot Thursday, beating Street estimates by 3 cents a share in its first quarter as a publicly traded company.
Avanex, which makes a variety of fiber-optic products, posted a loss of US$2.9 million, or 8 cents a share, on sales of US$10.5 million.
In the year-ago quarter, it lost US$1.8 million, or 80 cents a share.
Avanex shares closed off 11 5/16, or 13 percent, to 76 3/16 ahead of the earnings report.
Broadbase Software Inc. (Nasdaq: BBSW) also reported a smaller-than-expected loss in its first quarter, dropping US$5.5 million, or 14 cents a share, on sales of US$6.3 million.
Analysts were expecting a loss of 17 cents a share in the quarter.
Broadbase shares closed up 3/16 to 19 1/2 ahead of the earnings report.
The US$5.5 million in sales marks a 324 percent surge from the year-ago quarter when it lost US$4.5 million, or US$1.29 a share, on sales of US$1.5 million.
First Call consensus expects it to lose 54 cents a share in the fiscal year.
Saba Software Inc. (Nasdaq: SABA) check in with strong sales growth in its first quarter as a publicly traded company.
The software developer lost US$16 million, or US$1.04 a share, on sales of US$5.2 million.
There was no First Call consensus estimate for Saba this quarter.
The US$5.2 million in sales was a whopping 839 percent improvement from the year-ago quarter when it lost US$2.5 million, or 19 cents a share, on sales of US$554,000.
Saba shares closed off 5 5/8, or 21 percent, to 20 7/8 ahead of the earnings report.
