BP p.l.c. (BP) shares are up $1.32, or 3.11%, to $44.37 in pre-market trading Tuesday after the company reported its first-quarter earnings results.
The world’s largest oil company posted earnings of $0.14 per share on revenues of $54.20 billion, down 40.9% from $91.7 billion a year ago. Analysts were expecting EPS of $0.07 on revenues of $51.93 billion. Net income and underlying replacement cost profit, were $2.13 and $2.60 billion for the first three months of fiscal 2015, compared to $3.5 and $3.2 billion, respectively, in the same period in the previous year.
While the oil major reported better-than-expected earnings from refining and trading, which helped to offset the lower oil price, BP’s chief executive Bob Dudley said he was “resetting and rebalancing BP to meet the challenges of a possible period of sustained lower prices.”
“Our results today reflect both this weaker environment and the actions we are taking in response,” he added.
Brent crude was trading at $64.72 a barrel on Tuesday morning, while WTI crude was trading around $57 a barrel. While prices have rebounded in recent months, they remain sharply lower from the level that they reached in June 2014.
On valuation measures, BP ADS shares, which currently have an average 3-month trading volume of 6.74 million shares, trade at a trailing-12 P/E of 35.16, a forward P/E of 14.69 and a P/E to growth ratio of 2.66. The median Wall Street price target on the name is $42 with a high target of $50. Currently ticker boasts 10 ‘Buy’ endorsements, compared to 19 ’Holds’ and 3 ‘Sell’.
Profitability-wise, BP has a t-12 profit and operating margin of 1.07% and 2.70%, respectively. The $130.55 billion market cap company reported $1.9 billion in cash flow vs. $25.1 billion in net debt in its most recent quarter.
BP currently prints a one year loss of about 9% and a year-to-date return of around 15%.
The chart below shows where the equity has traded over the last 52 weeks.
VASCO Data Security International Inc. (VDSI) reported first-quarter EPS of $0.34 before the opening bell Tuesday, compared to the consensus estimate of $0.23. Revenues increased 50.3% from $38.8 million last year to $65.1 million. Analysts expected revenues of $54.5 million. Net income, which includes the impact of co.’s discontinued operations, was $13.6 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, compared with $3.5 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, a year earlier.
“We are pleased with the results of the first quarter,” stated T. Kendall Hunt, Chairman & CEO. “Revenue reported for the first quarter of 2015 was the highest of any quarter in our history and reflected both the delivery of a significant amount of card readers using our new Cronto technology to Rabobank, which was part of our record backlog at the beginning of the year, and a significant increase in revenues from other customers in the quarter.”
For FY/15, VDSI provided revenue guidance of $230 – $240 million, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $228.35 million.
Profitability-wise, VDSI has a t-12 profit and operating margin of 16.61% and 18.90%, respectively. The $968.94 million market cap company reported $149.1 million in cash in its most recent quarter, compared to $137.4 million at Dec. 31, 2014. There were no bank borrowings at either March 31, 2015 or December 31, 2014.
VDSI currently prints a one year return of about 120% and a year-to-date loss of around 13%. The stock is currently up $2.52 to $27.10.
The chart below shows where the equity has traded over the last year.
Shares of Ford Motor Co. (F) are down $0.18 to $15.72 after the company released its earnings results on Tuesday. The firm reported Q1’15 EPS of $0.23 per share vs. $0.26 consensus on $31.80 billion in revenue, down 6.2% from a year ago. Net income was $924 million, or 23 cents per share, down $65 million, or 1 cent/shr, compared with a year ago.
“The first quarter was a good start to a year in which our results will grow progressively stronger as the new products we have been launching start to pay off,” CEO Mark Fields said in a statement.
The North American market and Ford’s credit operations were highlights from the quarter. The company pointed to operating margins for the full-fiscal year/15 of 8.5-9.5%. It revised South America profit guidance down “in light of external environment.”
Profitability-wise, F has a t-12 profit and operating margin of 2.21% and 2.63%, respectively. The $63.20 billion market cap company reported $19.5 billion in cash in its most recent quarter.
Ford currently prints a one year return of 4.24% and a year-to-date return of 3.63%.
JetBlue Airways Corporation (JBLU) is up 1.20% to $19.95 in pre-market trading after it reported fiscal results for the first quarter.
In its quarterly report, the airliner said it earned $0.40 per share, in-line with the $0.40 per share analysts were expecting. Revenue rose 12.9% to $1.52 billion, bellow views for $1.53 billion. Net income was $137 million, or $0.40 per share, compared with $4.00 million, or $0.01 per share, a year ago.
“JetBlue had a strong first quarter despite challenging winter weather conditions.” commented Mark Powers, JetBlue’s Chief Financial Officer. “As we look forward, we expect to implement the return accretive initiatives we outlined at Investor Day and improve the balance sheet while continuing to reinvest in our business.”
Profitability-wise, JBLU has a t-12 profit and operating margin of 6.89% and 8.73%, respectively. The $6.17 billion market cap company reported $599 million in cash vs. $2.1 billion in debt in its most recent quarter.
JBLU currently prints a one year return of about 150% and a year-to-date return of 24.27%.
Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK) rallied $2.64 to $59.74 in pre-market trading after it reported fiscal-first quarter earnings.
The pharmaceutical firm handed in earnings of $0.85 per share on revenue of $9.43 billion, beating Wall Street estimates of $0.75 per share on revenue of $9.06 billion. GAAP net income for the period was $953 million, or $0.33 per share, compared with GAAP net income of $1.7 billion, or $0.57 per share, a year earlier.
“Our strong performance this quarter demonstrates that our scientific and business strategies, together with our focused investments, are paying off,” said in a statement Chairman and CEO Kenneth C. Frazier.
“We remain focused on bringing forward the best scientific and medical innovations.”
“By capitalizing on the exciting scientific and clinical opportunities that lie ahead, Merck is poised to play a major role in transforming health care for patients, as well as payers and shareholders.”
For FY/15, MRK provided EPS guidance of $3.35 – $3.48 versus consensus of $3.37 per share. The company also issued revenue projection of $38.3 – $39.8 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $39.23 billion.
On valuation measures, Merck & Co. Inc. shares, which currently have an average 3-month trading volume of 11.59 million shares, trade at a trailing-12 P/E of 14.03, a forward P/E of 15.11 and a P/E to growth ratio of 3.42. The median Wall Street price target on the name is $63.50 with a high target of $72.00. Currently ticker boasts 6 ‘Buy’ endorsements, compared to 14 ‘Holds’ and no ‘Sell’.
Profitability-wise, MRK has a t-12 profit and operating margin of 28.22% and 21.58%, respectively. The $161.50 billion market cap company currently prints a one year return of about 2.90% and a year-to-date return of around 1.50%.
The chart below shows where the equity has traded over the last 52 weeks.
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