Corporate Executive Board Beats Up on Analysts Yet Again

Seth Jayson, The Motley Fool
Updated

Corporate Executive Board (NYS: EXBD) reported earnings on Feb. 7. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
Corporate Executive Board chalked up revenue of $133.0 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for a top line of $132.8 million. Sales were 13% higher than the prior-year quarter's $117.0 million.

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

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.59. The seven earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.55 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.50 for Q4 were 61% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.31 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 67.2%, 390 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 25.3%, 1,080 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 12.8%, 360 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $131.0 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.43.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $541.9 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.87.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 354 members out of 378 rating the stock outperform, and 24 members rating it underperform. Among 164 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 160 give Corporate Executive Board a green thumbs-up, and four give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Corporate Executive Board is outperform, with an average price target of $43.17.

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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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