Twilio Inc. projected a loss in the current quarter, falling short of analysts’ estimates, in a sign the company is spending on its expansion plans during a time of robust demand for communications software.

The company said it expects to lose 8 cents to 11 cents a share, excluding some items, in the period ending in December. Analysts projected Twilio would break even. Sales will be as much as US$455 million in the period, the company said Monday in a statement, topping analysts’ average estimate of US$431 million, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Chief Executive Officer Jeff Lawson has entered new product and geographic markets to maintain Twilio’s lofty growth. The company said it would buy startup Segment Inc. for US$3.2 billion in stock earlier this month, getting customer-data technology that will help Twilio better compete against Salesforce.com Inc. and Adobe Inc. Twilio was known for helping companies such as Uber Technologies Inc. call and text customers. Then it bought SendGrid Inc., for marketing automation. More recently, it has sought to leverage its videoconferencing tool to address a surge in demand for telehealth medicine during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Shares declined about 1 per cent in extended trading after closing at US$300.62 in New York. The stock has tripled this year.

Twilio reported that third-quarter sales climbed 52 per cent to US$448 million, compared with analysts’ average estimate of US$406.7 million. Excluding some items, the company reported a profit of 4 cents a share. Analysts were looking for a loss of 4 cents.

Under generally accepted accounting principles, the company reported its loss widened to US$116.9 million, or 79 cents a share, from US$87.7 million, or 64 cents, in the period a year earlier.