eLong Beats on Both Top and Bottom Lines

eLong (Nasdaq: LONG  ) reported earnings on May 13. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), eLong beat expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Gross margins grew, operating margins dropped, net margins dropped.

Revenue details
eLong notched revenue of $37.2 million. The two analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see revenue of $33.3 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 44% higher than the prior-year quarter's $24.3 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 $0.07. The two earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.01 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.07 for Q1 were 17% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.06 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.01 for Q1 were 80% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.05 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 58.0%, 270 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -4.2%, 590 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.3%, 650 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $39.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.06.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $163.3 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.34.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 147 members out of 179 rating the stock outperform, and 32 members rating it underperform. Among 44 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 35 give eLong a green thumbs-up, and nine give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on eLong is buy, with an average price target of $20.67.

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