Sensata Technologies Holding Beats on EPS But GAAP Results Lag

Seth Jayson, The Motley Fool
Updated

Sensata Technologies Holding (NYS: ST) reported earnings on Feb. 1. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Sensata Technologies Holding beat slightly on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
Sensata Technologies Holding tallied revenue of $453.4 million. The nine analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see a top line of $448.5 million. Sales were 17% higher than the prior-year quarter's $387.8 million.

anImage
anImage

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

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.45. The nine earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.44 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.13 for Q4 were 66% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.38 per share.

anImage
anImage

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 34.1%, 500 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 15.8%, 300 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.4%, 1,230 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $476.1 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.49.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.99 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.14.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 34 members out of 39 rating the stock outperform, and five members rating it underperform. Among eight CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), eight give Sensata Technologies Holding a green thumbs-up, and none give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Sensata Technologies Holding is outperform, with an average price target of $33.95.

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.

Copyright © 1995 - 2012 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Advertisement