Riverbed Technology Catches Analysts Sleeping Again

Seth Jayson, The Motley Fool
Updated

Riverbed Technology (NAS: RVBD) reported earnings on Jan. 26. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Riverbed Technology met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Gross margins dropped, operating margins contracted, net margins grew.

Revenue details
Riverbed Technology recorded revenue of $202.8 million. The 34 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for a top line of $200.9 million. Sales were 23% higher than the prior-year quarter's $165.4 million.

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

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.25. The 34 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.24 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.12 for Q4 were 53% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.08 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 75.3%, 130 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 12.7%, 70 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 9.9%, 230 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $185.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.20.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $859.9 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.04.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 892 members out of 942 rating the stock outperform, and 50 members rating it underperform. Among 252 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 243 give Riverbed Technology a green thumbs-up, and nine give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Riverbed Technology is outperform, with an average price target of $31.12.

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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 don't 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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