Why Avid Technology, Inc. Stock Plummeted Tuesday

Image source: Avid.

What: Shares of Avid Technology crashed hard on Tuesday, falling by 35% at one point on a disappointing second-quarter report. Shares were down 30% at 12:40 p.m.

So what: In the second quarter, Avid's sales fell 12% year over year to $112 million, far short of the $125 million analyst target. On the bottom line, Wall Street was looking for earnings of $0.20 per share, up from $0.15 per share in the year-ago period. Instead, Avid's earnings fell to $0.05 per diluted share.

Management also raised guidance for the full fiscal year. The $544 million midpoint of Avid's new revenue guidance range sits comfortably above the Street's current $539 million view, and EBITDA profit targets were lifted by 3%.

Now what: The gap between weak results and rising guidance leaves management with a lot to prove. According to press statements, the maker of digital media production tools saw lots of operational progress in this quarter, leading to improved visibility into the second half.

Fair enough, I suppose. The company is working through the recently closed acquisition of 3D graphics specialist Orad, a $65 million deal that's expected to provide an immediate boost to both the top and bottom lines. Moreover, like so many software vendors before it, Avid is converting its sales from perpetual licenses to a subscription-based model. Maybe there's some meat on them bones, and Avid really is set up to spring an even bigger positive surprise on investors in the next two reports.

Then again, Avid's leaders have a history of making big promises and then failing to deliver.

This was the third earnings miss in a row, and the negative surprises are only growing larger. Avid's track record on the revenue side doesn't look any better.

In short, Avid has a simple choice to make right now: Start delivering on your lofty promises or stop setting unreachable goals.

The article Why Avid Technology, Inc. Stock Plummeted Tuesday originally appeared on Fool.com.

Anders Bylund has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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.