United Technologies Beats Estimates Yet Again

Seth Jayson, The Motley Fool
Updated

United Technologies (NYS: UTX) reported earnings on Jan. 25. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), United Technologies met expectations on revenue and met expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue increased slightly, and earnings per share expanded.

Gross margins expanded, operating margins contracted, net margins improved.

Revenue details
United Technologies reported revenue of $15.0 billion. The 16 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $15.1 billion. Sales were 0.9% higher than the prior-year quarter's $14.9 billion.

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Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions.

EPS details
EPS came in at $1.47. The 15 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $1.46 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.47 for Q4 were 12% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.31 per share.

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Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Figures may be non-GAAP to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 27.5%, 60 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 12.5%, 100 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 8.9%, 80 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $13.6 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.25.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $63.0 billion. The average EPS estimate is $5.77.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,530 members out of 1,591 rating the stock outperform, and 61 members rating it underperform. Among 437 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 427 give United Technologies a green thumbs-up, and 10 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on United Technologies is outperform, with an average price target of $89.61.

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At the time thisarticle was published Seth Jayson had no position in any company mentioned here at the time of publication. You can view his stock holdings here. He is co-advisor ofMotley Fool Hidden Gems, which provides new small-cap ideas every month, backed by a real-money portfolio. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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