"So people should not take this quarter as a harbinger of future quarters."

It will need to make at least twice that amount in future quarters to avoid being required to reduce dividends.

The practice helps make future quarters look better in comparison, and it often gives a company's stock price a lift.

Then they would sign enough of them to allow the company to meet revenue targets, while delaying the others for use in future quarters.

Tyco said the revenue would now be recognized in future quarters over the life of the contract.

The impact on banks is likely to be felt in future quarters as well.

Evans selected the site for his future quarters in 1896.

First, it makes the comparison with future quarters easy.

"We think we've seen the worst and things are going to improve in future quarters," he said.

That means investors cannot necessarily anticipate comparable growth in future quarters.