Priceline Group Inc. (PCLN) will announce its first-quarter 2016 financial results before the open of the U.S. financial markets Wednesday. Analysts expect the reservation services company to report earnings per share of $9.66 and revenue of $2.12 billion. That would be $2.97 lower the $12.63 per share posted last quarter, and $1.54 higher the $8.12 posted in the Q115. Revenue is projected to be $280 million higher than the $1.84 billion posted in the same period a year earlier. Meanwhile, EarningsWhisper.com reports a whisper number of $9.96 per share.
As a quick reminder, Priceline Group reported fourth-quarter 2015 EPS of $12.63, $0.83 better than the Street’s consensus estimate of $11.80. Revenue increased 8.70% year-over-year to $2 billion versus the $1.96 billion consensus.
Priceline Stock Valuation Metrics
Priceline Group Inc. shares are priced at 27.39x this year’s forecasted earnings, compared to the industry’s 15.51x earnings multiple. The company’s current year and next year EPS growth estimates stand at 19.10% and 16.60%, compared to the industry growth rates of 15.80% and 23.10%, respectively. PCLN stock has a t-12 price-to-sales ratio of 7.30. EPS for the same period registers at $49.45.
The online travel giant, a company with a remarkable business model that thrives even under difficult conditions, is seen positively by many in Wall Street. In a note late Monday, RBC Capital Markets analyst Mark Mahaney reiterated his price target of $1,700 on the name, noting growth and profitability trends. Last week, Piper Jaffray’s Michael Olson reiterated his ‘Overweight’ rating and $1,540 target on PCLN stock.
Priceline Group Inc. recently traded at $1,354.64, a loss of $2.05 over Tuesday’s closing price. The name has a current market cap of $67.24 billion.
Update: Priceline Group Inc. shares are down $129.76 to $1,224.88 in pre-market trading Wednesday despite the company reporting strong first quarter earnings results.
The Norwalk, Connecticut-based company posted earnings of $10.54 per share on revenues of $2.15 billion, up 16.70% from a year ago. Analysts were expecting EPS of $9.64 on revenues of $2.12 billion.
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