* Forecasts 2016 operating loss of $41 mln-$47 mln
* Raises 2016 revenue by 5.2 pct to $337 mln-$347 mln
* Q1 revenue $72.7 mln vs analysts' estimate $66.9 mln
(Adds details, background, shares)
May 4 (Reuters) - Canada's Shopify Inc SH.TO SHOP.N , a
maker of software that helps retailers set up and manage online
stores, forecast a bigger operating loss for the year, due to
higher compensation expenses.
The company, however, posted a smaller-than-expected loss
for the first quarter as its revenue rose 3.6 percent from the
preceding quarter, due to tie-ups with companies such as
Facebook Inc FB.O .
Shopify's U.S.-listed shares, which have risen more than 80
percent since their IPO in May, fell as much as 9 percent on
Wednesday.
The company said it expects a bigger 2016 operating loss of
$41 million-$47 million, compared with a previous forecast of
$36 million-$42 million.
Analysts said shares were down because of profit-taking, or
as investors offloaded some shares because they have become
expensive.
The company, founded in 2006, has been expanding
aggressively and its workforce has risen eightfold over the last
three years.
Shopify increased its revenue forecast by about 5 percent
for the year to $337 million-$347 million.
"They have taken the revenue guidance up impressively, or
quite a bit, but they did not do anything to the full year
operating loss," said Raymond James analyst Terry Tillman.
Shopify's software helps sellers provide live customer
support, send order confirmations and shipping updates through
the Facebook messenger platform.
Shopify, which went public in May last year, has also struck
deals with companies such as Amazon.com AMZN.O and Uber
UBER.UL , with which it has a tie-up for same-day deliveries.
"Mobile orders from Shopify merchants surpassed those of
desktops in February, and have continued to climb since," said
Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke.
Shopify had said last week it will start providing cash
advances to customers in the United States seeking financing.
Net loss widened to $8.9 million in the quarter from $6.3
million, in the preceding quarter.
Excluding items, Shopify posted a loss of 6 cents per share,
smaller than the average analyst estimate for a loss of 9 cents
per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
The Ottawa-based company posted a revenue of $72.7 million,
beating the average analyst estimate of $66.9 million.