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Why Is Roper Technologies (ROP) Up 4.5% Since the Last Earnings Report?

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A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Roper Technologies, Inc. (ROP - Free Report) . Shares have added about 4.5% in that time frame, outperforming the market.

Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to the stock’s next earnings release, or is it due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.

Roper Technologies Q4 Earnings, Revenues Beat Estimates, Up Y/Y

Roper Technologies reported fourth-quarter 2016 adjusted earnings per share of $1.86, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.82 and increased 2.2% year over year. Revenues of $1.011 billion beat the consensus mark of $1.003 billion and were up 7% year over year.

Organic revenues were up 2% while orders increased 17% year over year to $1.085 billion in the quarter.

Roper Technologies maintained that acquisitions will help boost its performance especially the software and network businesses. Roper has spent nearly $3.7 billion in software acquisitions, which include ConstructConnect and Deltek. Management expects half of its total EBITDA in 2017 to come from software and network businesses.

Segment Revenue Details

Revenues from Medical & Scientific Imaging increased 9.4% year over year to $352 million.

Revenues from RF Technology went up 19.8% from the year-ago quarter to $337.7 million.

Revenues from Industrial Technology however decreased 2% year over year to $178.4 million.

Also, revenues from Energy Systems & Controls declined nearly 9.7% year over year to $142.6 million.

Margins

Adjusted gross margin increased 50 basis points (bps) to 62.3%.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

Roper Technologies ended the quarter with approximately $757.2 million in cash and equivalents compared with $778.5 million as on Dec 31, 2015. Long-term debt was $5.809 billion compared with $3.264 billion at the end of 2015.

For the year, the company’s adjusted cash flow was $1.001 billion while adjusted free cash flow was $961 million.

Guidance

For the first quarter of 2017, Roper Technologies expects adjusted earnings per share in a range of $1.92 - $2.00.

For 2017, the company expects adjusted earnings per share in a range of $8.82 - $9.22 per share. Adjusted revenues are expected to be up in a band of 20% to 22% year over year. Organic revenues are expected to be up in a range of 3% to 5%. Operating cash flow is expected to be $1.150 billion, up 15% year over year.

For Medical, management stated that revenues are likely to grow in mid-single digits, driven primarily by broad based growth while cryo-EM opportunitybodes well for Scientific imaging business.

For RF Technology, strength in toll & traffic as well as software business should help it to grow. Also, MTA project and acquisition of ConstuctConnect should boost earnings going into 2017.  

For Industrial Technology, Roper expects revenues to grow in low single digits with strong performance of the Neptune business.

Energy Systems & Controls revenues are expected to be flat to up in low single digits.

How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?

Analysts were quiet during the last one month period as none of them issued any earnings estimate revisions.

VGM Scores

At this time, Roper Technologies's stock has a subpar Growth Score of 'D', a grade with the same score on the momentum front. However, the stock was allocated a grade of 'F' on the value side, putting it in the bottom quintile for this investment strategy.

Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of 'F'. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.

Our style scores indicate investors will probably be better served looking elsewhere.

Outlook

Interestingly, the stock has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). We are expecting an above average return from the stock in the next few months.


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