Tiernan Ray at Barrons predicts a bright future for Ariba, if they are able to control costs and continue the growth of subscription sales.

“SOME CORPORATE TURNAROUNDS FARE WELL IN RECESSIONS, thanks to their above-average earnings-growth. Dot-com flameout Ariba (ticker: ARBA) has the chops to be among them. Its shares have a reasonable multiple, and the software vendor has muscled up its online, commission-based marketplace, which helps companies manage supply-spending. Meanwhile, the stock’s still in the office-park dumpster.

Ariba shares hit an all-time high of $169 in 2000 amid the buzz for B2B, or business-to-business, software companies. But like other 1990s tech darlings, it couldn’t turn a profit then, and fell hard, as low as 5, in the new century: Now the shares are around 16, and Ariba’s business is showing signs of life.”

The full article and associated video can be found on the Barrons website - Ariba — Dot-com Flameout’s New Fire