Nasdaq OMX Group Beats Analyst Estimates on EPS (NDAQ)

Nasdaq OMX Group Beats Analyst Estimates on EPS

Nasdaq OMX Group (Nasdaq: NDAQ ) reported earnings on Oct. 24. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Sep. 30 (Q3), Nasdaq OMX Group met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue dropped and GAAP earnings per share dropped.

Margins expanded across the board.

Revenue details
Nasdaq OMX Group notched revenue of $409.0 million. The 14 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated revenue of $411.3 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 21% lower than the prior-year quarter's $946.0 million.

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 $0.62. The 17 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.60 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.52 for Q3 were 15% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.61 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 55.0%, 870 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 24.9%, 300 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 12.0%, 40 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $421.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.65.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.66 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.47.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 580 members out of 601 rating the stock outperform, and 21 members rating it underperform. Among 156 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 151 give Nasdaq OMX Group a green thumbs-up, and five give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Nasdaq OMX Group is outperform, with an average price target of $27.86.

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Seth Jayson had no position in any company mentioned here at the time of publication. You can view his stock holdings here. He is co-advisor of Motley Fool Hidden Gems, which provides new small-cap ideas every month, backed by a real-money portfolio. The Motley Fool has no positions in the stocks mentioned above. Motley Fool newsletter services recommend Nasdaq Stock Market. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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