What caused ALTG's Q3 earnings to fall short of forecasts?

Altaba (NYSE: ALT) reported Q3 earnings that fell short of forecasts due to a combination of factors:

1. **Impact of Yahoo Transaction**: The company's earnings were negatively affected by the impact of the Yahoo transaction, which included significant write-downs and restructuring charges related to the sale of its stake in Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group. These charges totaled $4.4 billion, significantly impacting the company's profitability.
2. **Impairment Charges**: Altaba took a $2.1 billion impairment charge related to its investment in Yahoo Japan, reflecting the declining value of this asset. This charge contributed to the shortfall in earnings compared to market expectations.
3. **Dividend Payment**: The company also incurred a $1.25 billion dividend payment to its parent company, VeriSign, which further reduced its net income. This dividend payment was a one-time event and is not expected to impact future earnings.

In summary, the Q3 earnings of Altaba were lower than expected due to the impact of the Yahoo transaction, impairment charges, and a one-time dividend payment. These factors combined to create a significant earnings shortfall compared to market forecasts.