NuVasive Beats on Both Top and Bottom Lines

NuVasive (Nasdaq: NUVA  ) reported earnings on Feb. 26. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins contracted, operating margins grew, net margins expanded.

Revenue details
NuVasive logged revenue of $165.8 million. The 23 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw revenue of $156.2 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 10% higher than the prior-year quarter's $150.2 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 $0.34. The 22 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.21 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.34 for Q4 were 26% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.27 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.06 for Q4 against -$0.24 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 74.5%, 80 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 8.4%, 210 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -1.7%, 500 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $156.0 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.18.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $653.2 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.90.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 171 members out of 190 rating the stock outperform, and 19 members rating it underperform. Among 43 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 39 give NuVasive 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 NuVasive is outperform, with an average price target of $19.56.

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