an announcement made by a public company that profits in a particular period will be less than expected

A number of companies are expected to issue profit warnings ahead of April's announcements of first-quarter earnings. 在4月份公布第一季度财报之前，预计将有多家公司发布利润预警。

The Anglo-French computer-services outsourcing company issued a profits warning that sent its shares nosediving by 44%. 英法电脑服务外包公司发出利润警告，使其股价大跌44%。