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 Sify Technologies (SIFY 1.68%) plunged nearly 20% Wednesday after the Indian IT services provider reported quarterly results.
So what: Quarterly revenue rose by 22% to approximately 2,505 million rupees, or approximately $40.7 million, beating analysts' expectations for sales of $38.88 million. Meanwhile, Sify turned in a net profit of 111 million rupees, or roughly $1.8 million, compared to a net loss of 57 million rupees in the same year-ago period -- that is, when you exclude its massive one-time gain this time last year from the exit of its MF Global Sify Securities India affiliate.
Now what: It's worth noting Sify stock also experienced a massive 32% run up in the three trading days prior to this earnings release, so today's pullback simply brings shares back to their week-ago levels as investors take their quick profits.
As it stands, though, I've got to applaud Sify's solid turn into the black as it benefits from increased IT spending in India's fast-growing economy. If the company can maintain this momentum going forward, and with shares trading at a reasonable 22 times last year's earnings, patient long-term shareholders who can stomach the volatility could be rewarded down the road.
