Why Shares of Ellie Mae Inc Gapped Up

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of Ellie Mae rose as much as 15% on Friday after the mortgage software provider topped Wall Street's expectations for fourth-quarter revenues and earnings per share (EPS) and, crucially, announced guidance for the first quarter and the full year that also exceeded consensus estimates. By 1 p.m., the stock had pulled back and was sitting at a roughly 6% gain from the previous day's close.

So what: It was "beats" across the board when Ellie Mae announced its fourth-quarter results and its outlook for the current quarter and 2015, as the table below illustrates:

*Adjusted. Source: Ellie Mae, Thomson Financial Network, Zacks.

Note that, with regard to guidance for the first quarter and the full-year 2015, the low end of the company's estimate range was in every case higher than the consensus estimate -- that is, on revenues, EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization -- not included in the table), and adjusted earnings per share.

With regard to the fourth quarter, the 53% year-over-year increase in revenues represents a huge rebound from the "growth trough" in the year-ago quarter (+1.5%) and the best quarterly growth figure in two years.

This is how newly installed CEO Jonathan Corr characterized that performance:

Now what: I don't disagree with Corr that Ellie Mae is entering 2015 "well positioned to continue to grow market share and revenues." With the shares now valued at roughly 55 times the company's own high estimate of 2015 adjusted EPS (which doesn't deduct the cost of stock options, among other items), continued growth is imperative if the company is to reward investors with anything like the gains they have earned to date.

The article Why Shares of Ellie Mae Inc Gapped Up originally appeared on Fool.com.

Alex Dumortier, CFA, has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Ellie Mae. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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