Electro Scientific Industries Makes Analysts Look Bad

Seth Jayson, The Motley Fool
Updated

Electro Scientific Industries (NAS: ESIO) reported earnings on Jan. 26. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q3), Electro Scientific Industries met expectations on revenue and NA on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue dropped significantly, and GAAP earnings per share contracted to a loss. The profit was a surprise, as analysts had predicted a loss.

Margins contracted across the board.

Revenue details
Electro Scientific Industries chalked up revenue of $49.8 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated sales of $50.5 million. Sales were 26% lower than the prior-year quarter's $67.2 million.

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

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.02. The two earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted -$0.04 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS were -$0.07 for Q3 versus $0.08 per share for the prior-year quarter.

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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 42.5%, 220 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -6.6%, 1,350 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -3.8%, 730 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $58.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.07.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $267.8 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.64.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 228 members out of 240 rating the stock outperform, and 12 members rating it underperform. Among 88 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 86 give Electro Scientific Industries a green thumbs-up, and two give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Electro Scientific Industries is buy, with an average price target of $17.67.

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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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