Alpha Natural Resources
The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Alpha Natural Resources missed estimates on revenues and missed expectations on earnings per share.
Compared with the prior-year quarter, revenue grew significantly and GAAP earnings per share dropped to a loss.
Gross margins dropped, operating margins grew, net margins dropped.
Revenue details
Alpha Natural Resources reported revenue of $2.07 billion. The 13 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected net sales of $2.17 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $993.1 million.
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.
EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at -$0.07. The 18 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.27 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS were -$3.34 for Q4 compared to $0.10 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 16.2%, 590 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 0.8%, 70 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -35.4%, 3,670 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.
Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $2.06 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.32.
Next year's average estimate for revenue is $8.27 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.42.
Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 821 members out of 859 rating the stock outperform, and 38 members rating it underperform. Among 217 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 207 give Alpha Natural Resources a green thumbs-up, and 10 give it a red thumbs-down.
Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Alpha Natural Resources is outperform, with an average price target of $36.33.
Is Alpha Natural Resources the right energy stock for you? Read about a handful of timely, profit-producing plays on expensive crude in "3 Stocks for $100 Oil." Get instant access to this free report.
- Add Alpha Natural Resources to My Watchlist.