CoreLogic Shares Popped: What You Need to Know

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of financial information service CoreLogic (NYSE: CLGX  ) are acting highly illogical today, jumping as much as 14.4% on above-average volume.

So what: Freshly reported third-quarter results showed disappointing revenues but strong EBITDA income, causing management to increase its full-year earnings expectations. CoreLogic benefits from lots of mortgage refinancing action, a couple of tuck-in acquisitions, and a cost-reduction program that's getting some traction.

Now what: The company is also shedding five underperforming business units in order to refocus on the profitable analytics and mortgage origination divisions. Moreover, management is still looking at "strategic alternatives," which often is code for being buyout bait. Direct rival Lender Processing Services (NYSE: LPS  ) would be more of a merger of equals, but CoreLogic could become a nice portfolio expansion for larger sector peers such as Fidelity National Financial (NYSE: FNF  ) or Broadridge Financial (NYSE: BR  ) . Add CoreLogic to your watchlist and stay tuned.