The Active Network (NYSE: ACTV) is once again outpacing the pros.

The provider of Web-based registrations for triathlons, marathons, and other lively events is moving higher today after posting better-than-expected quarterly results last night.

Revenue climbed 23% to $76 million, fueled primarily by a 33% surge in technology revenue that accounts for all but 14% of Active Network's business. Registrations are naturally trending higher, but the average revenue that Active Network is collecting on each registration is also on the rise. Active Network's net loss narrowed to $0.16 a share, well short of the $0.22-a-share deficit that the pros were targeting. The company has landed ahead of analyst estimates in each of its first three quarters as a public company.

If you've registered for a 5K charitable run or a coed kickball league, there's a decent chance that you went through Active Network. It wouldn't be a surprise if you even used the company's "Couch to 5k" mobile app -- which gets couch potatoes up and moving through a gradual nine-week fitness plan -- so you didn't embarrass yourself at the 5K you got hoodwinked into attending.

There are certainly plenty of ways to play the inevitable wellness shift.

  • Nike (NYSE: NKE) has been outfitting active consumers with athletic footwear and branded apparel for decades. Nike hit the market on Wednesday with Nike+ FuelBand, a mobile health bracelet that monitors physical activity in high-tech ways.
  • Under Armour (NYSE: UA) has cashed in on its performance apparel. The clothes shake off sweat, making it a popular brand for athletes and athletic hobbyists.
  • lululemon athletic (Nasdaq: LULU) has carved a name for itself as a high-end boutique operator, selling yoga gear and other stylish apparel for women in motion.

There are also a few publicly traded fitness centers, but isn't it a better wager to bank on the technology leader in this space? Active Network may have gotten its start by arranging cloud-based solutions for triathlon participants -- a niche it now completely dominates -- but porting that platform across everything from doling out fishing licenses to setting up corporate events has been surprisingly seamless.

Active Network is ready to pick up the pace. After seeing revenue climb at a 20% clip through the first nine months of last year and rise 23% in its latest quarter, the acceleration should continue through 2012. At the midpoint of its projected ranges, Active Network sees its top line climbing by 25% this quarter and 27% for all of 2012. The $425 million to $435 million in revenue that the tech-savvy company is aiming for this year is well ahead of Wall Street's finish line of $409 million. Losses will continue as Active Network ramps up its offerings and absorbs strategic acquisitions, but adjusted EBITDA is projected to clock in between $46 million and $50 million (after checking in at $36 million in 2011).

Active Network is lacing up. Get ready to sprint.

On the run
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