Websense Increases Sales but Misses Revenue Estimate

Seth Jayson, The Motley Fool
Updated

Websense (NAS: WBSN) reported earnings on Jan. 31. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins improved across the board.

Revenue details
Websense logged revenue of $92.7 million. The 11 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see revenue of $94.4 million. Sales were 7.4% higher than the prior-year quarter's $86.4 million.

anImage
anImage

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

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.44. The 13 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.43 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.27 for Q4 were 26% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.21 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 83.9%, 60 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 14.4%, 550 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 11.2%, 90 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $92.1 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.39.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $379.5 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.69.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 89 members out of 106 rating the stock outperform, and 17 members rating it underperform. Among 27 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 27 give Websense a green thumbs-up, and give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Websense is hold, with an average price target of $21.13.

New technology paradigms and mobile devices are driving the next wave of computing. Many older companies won't survive the change, while fortunes will be made by the first movers in the field. Where does Websense fit in? What's the fortune-making change? Check out "The Two Words Bill Gates Doesn't Want You to Hear.." Click here for instant access to this free report.

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