NetApp Beats Up on Analysts Yet Again

NetApp (Nasdaq: NTAP  ) reported earnings on Feb. 13. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Jan. 25 (Q3), NetApp met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins expanded across the board.

Revenue details
NetApp booked revenue of $1.63 billion. The 32 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted a top line of $1.63 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were the same as the prior-year quarter's.

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 $0.67. The 35 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.56 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.43 for Q3 were 34% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.32 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 59.2%, 120 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 11.6%, 140 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 9.7%, 210 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.75 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.65.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $6.36 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.15.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 560 members out of 636 rating the stock outperform, and 76 members rating it underperform. Among 163 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 147 give NetApp a green thumbs-up, and 16 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on NetApp is outperform, with an average price target of $36.51.

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