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 Bazaarvoice (BV) dropped more than 16% after the social commerce solution provider released fiscal first-quarter 2014 results and provided disappointing guidance.
So what: For the quarter, revenue increased 25% year over year to $44.6 million. Meanwhile, Bazaarvoice's adjusted net loss came in at $3.7 million, or $0.05 per share, compared to an adjusted loss of $0.07 per share this time last year. For reference, those numbers actually beat expectations, as analysts were looking for sales of just $44.07 million and a larger loss of $0.08 per share on the same basis.
However, despite the beat, management chose to maintain their existing full-year guidance for sales of $184 million to $187 million, with a non-GAAP net loss per share of $0.23 to $0.27, putting the midpoint below analysts' expectations for fiscal 2014 sales of $186.05 million and and adjusted loss of $0.26 per share. For the fiscal second-quarter 2014, management also expects total revenue to be in the range of $44.75 million to $45.25 million, with an adjusted net loss per share of $0.06 to $0.08. While that net loss is in-line with current estimates, analysts on average were looking for revenue at the high end of that range.
Now what: Nobody likes to see red ink on their company's ledger, and investors are understandably upset that, despite the earnings beat, management didn't feel comfortable also raising forward guidance. As it stands, I have to agree with those who've moved to the sidelines. I'd wait until Bazaarvoice can prove it has what it takes to achieve sustained profitability over the long term.
