Clearwater Paper Beats Analyst Estimates on EPS

Updated

Clearwater Paper (NYS: CLW) reported earnings on Feb. 20. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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


Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
Clearwater Paper reported revenue of $462.7 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted sales of $468.1 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were the same as the prior-year quarter's.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
EPS came in at $0.84. The five earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.76 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.84 for Q4 were 71% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.49 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 14.3%, 120 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 7.7%, 70 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 4.3%, 180 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $466.1 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.60.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.00 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.56.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 60 members out of 70 rating the stock outperform, and 10 members rating it underperform. Among 21 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 21 give Clearwater Paper 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 Clearwater Paper is outperform, with an average price target of $49.88.

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The article Clearwater Paper Beats Analyst Estimates on EPS originally appeared on Fool.com.

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