Lufkin Industries Beats on Both Top and Bottom Lines

Lufkin Industries (Nasdaq: LUFK  ) reported earnings on Feb. 14. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Lufkin Industries beat expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue increased significantly and GAAP earnings per share grew.

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
Lufkin Industries reported revenue of $355.7 million. The seven analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw a top line of $345.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 27% higher than the prior-year quarter's $279.3 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 $0.87. The 11 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.84 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.75 for Q4 were 12% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.67 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 24.4%, 50 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 12.1%, 200 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 7.1%, 30 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $331.2 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.80.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.38 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.67.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 591 members out of 610 rating the stock outperform, and 19 members rating it underperform. Among 181 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 178 give Lufkin Industries a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Lufkin Industries is outperform, with an average price target of $69.71.

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