Trimble Navigation Increases Sales but Misses Revenue Estimate

Trimble Navigation (Nasdaq: TRMB  ) reported earnings on April 30. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Trimble Navigation missed estimates on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue increased. Non-GAAP earnings per share grew. GAAP earnings per share contracted.

Gross margins expanded, operating margins dropped, net margins dropped.

Revenue details
Trimble Navigation reported revenue of $556.1 million. The nine analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted a top line of $578.3 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 11% higher than the prior-year quarter's $502.3 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 $0.38. The 10 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.37 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.38 for Q1 were 12% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.34 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.19 for Q1 were 5.0% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.20 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 55.1%, 90 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 10.4%, 160 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 9.0%, 110 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $572.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.37.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.29 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.50.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 402 members out of 423 rating the stock outperform, and 21 members rating it underperform. Among 86 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 79 give Trimble Navigation a green thumbs-up, and seven give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Trimble Navigation is outperform, with an average price target of $34.50.

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