EPIQ Systems Beats on the Top Line

Seth Jayson, The Motley Fool
Updated

EPIQ Systems (NAS: EPIQ) reported earnings on April 30. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), EPIQ Systems crushed expectations on revenues and met expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue increased significantly. Non-GAAP earnings per share didn't change. GAAP earnings per share grew significantly.


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

Revenue details
 EPIQ Systems reported revenue of $123.6 million. The two analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted a top line of $99.3 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 49% higher than the prior-year quarter's $82.8 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 $0.23. The three earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.23 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.23 were the same as the prior-year quarter. GAAP EPS of $0.11 for Q1 were 83% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.06 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 84.2%, much better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 5.8%, 80 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 3.2%, 70 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $99.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.23.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $407.9 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.04.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 168 members out of 186 rating the stock outperform, and 18 members rating it underperform. Among 51 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 47 give EPIQ Systems 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 EPIQ Systems is outperform, with an average price target of $15.00.

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The article EPIQ Systems Beats on the Top Line 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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