Fisher Communications Whiffs on Earnings

Seth Jayson, The Motley Fool
Updated

Fisher Communications (NAS: FSCI) reported earnings on Feb. 28. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Fisher Communications missed estimates on revenues and whiffed on earnings per share.

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


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

Revenue details
 Fisher Communications recorded revenue of $52.1 million. The one analyst polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for revenue of $53.3 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 12% higher than the prior-year quarter's $46.4 million.

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 $0.96. The one earnings estimate compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $1.24 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.96 for Q4 were 74% lower than the prior-year quarter's $3.71 per share. (The prior-year quarter included $0.06 per share in earnings from discontinued operations.)

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 66.4%, 450 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 26.2%, 470 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 16.5%, much worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $36.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.13.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $159.3 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.35.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 25 members out of 33 rating the stock outperform, and eight members rating it underperform. Among nine CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), six give Fisher Communications a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

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The article Fisher Communications Whiffs on Earnings originally appeared on Fool.com.

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. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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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