On Tuesday, FEI (NASDAQ:FEIC) -- which makes nanoscale equipment such as scanning electron microscopes -- released third-quarter earnings for the period ended Oct. 1.

  • The results include a $1.4 million non-operating gain from the sale of a private company, and $1.5 million of stock-based compensation expense.
  • Management said bookings and the backlog of unfilled orders grew to record levels.
  • Fourth-quarter net sales are expected to be $125 million to $132 million, with earnings under generally accepted accounting principles between $0.17 and $0.22 per share.
  • Our Motley Fool CAPS community rates the stock three out of five stars.

(Figures in millions, except per-share data)

Income Statement Highlights

Q3 2006

Q3 2005

Change

Sales

$117

$97

20.4%

Net Profit

$7

($5)

N/A

EPS

$0.17

($0.15)

N/A

Diluted Shares

40

34

17.6%



Get back to basics with a look at the income statement.

Margin Checkup

Q3 2006

Q3 2005

Change*

Gross Margin

40.99%

37.51%

3.48

Operating Margin

6.35%

(6.77%)

13.12

Net Margin

5.57%

(5.25%)

10.82



*Expressed in percentage points

Margins are the earnings engine. See how they work.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Assets

Q3 2006

Q3 2005

Change

Cash + ST Invest.

$303

$207

46.6%

Accounts Rec.

$136

$109

25.0%

Inventory

$89

$98

(9.3%)



Liabilities

Q3 2006

Q3 2005

Change

Accounts Payable

$33

$30

7.0%

Long-Term Debt

$311

$225

38.2%



Learn the ways of the balance sheet.

Cash Flow Highlights

Not even an electron microscope could find a cash flow statement with this earnings release.

Find out why Fools always follow the money.

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