Fluidigm Beats on Both Top and Bottom Lines

Fluidigm (Nasdaq: FLDM  ) reported earnings on Feb. 12. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
Fluidigm logged revenue of $15.7 million. The six analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $14.7 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 20% higher than the prior-year quarter's $13.0 million.

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

EPS details
EPS came in at -$0.14. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged -$0.15 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.14 for Q4 versus -$0.17 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 72.3%, 310 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -22.3%, 60 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -23.0%, 360 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $14.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.19.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $65.4 million. The average EPS estimate is -$0.52.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with nine members out of 16 rating the stock outperform, and seven members rating it underperform. Among nine CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), three give Fluidigm a green thumbs-up, and six give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Fluidigm is buy, with an average price target of $17.90.

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