Guidance Software Beats Up on Analysts Yet Again

Guidance Software (Nasdaq: GUID  ) reported earnings on Feb. 7. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Guidance Software beat expectations on revenue and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins improved across the board.

Revenue details
Guidance Software logged revenue of $29.9 million. The four analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw a top line of $28.5 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 15% higher than the prior-year quarter's $26.0 million.

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

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.16. The five earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.09 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS were $0.09 for Q4 versus -$0.02 per share for the prior-year quarter.

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 77.2%, 590 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 7.4%, 900 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 7.6%, 930 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $27.1 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.02.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $130.1 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.40.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 107 members out of 116 rating the stock outperform, and nine members rating it underperform. Among 43 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 42 give Guidance Software a green thumbs-up, and one gives it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Guidance Software is outperform, with an average price target of $7.50.

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