Fluor Goes Negative

Fluor (NYSE: FLR  ) reported earnings on Feb. 20. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Fluor missed estimates on revenues and crushed expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins contracted across the board.

Revenue details
Fluor reported revenue of $7.02 billion. The 15 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted a top line of $7.19 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 12% higher than the prior-year quarter's $6.25 billion.

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 $1.58. The 16 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.98 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $1.58 for Q4 were 76% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.90 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.03 for Q4 versus $0.89 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 -0.2%, 520 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -0.8%, 480 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -0.1%, 250 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $7.03 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.97.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $29.31 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.17.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,255 members out of 1,286 rating the stock outperform, and 31 members rating it underperform. Among 286 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 279 give Fluor 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 Fluor is outperform, with an average price target of $70.05.

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