Jones Lang LaSalle Beats on Revenue, Matches Expectations on EPS

Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE: JLL  ) reported earnings on Jan. 30. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Jones Lang LaSalle beat expectations on revenues and met expectations on earnings per share.

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

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

Revenue details
Jones Lang LaSalle logged revenue of $1.25 billion. The six analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $1.21 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 8.8% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.15 billion.

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 $2.60. The six earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $2.61 per share. GAAP EPS of $2.38 for Q4 were 25% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.91 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 78.3%, 10 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 13.1%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 8.6%, 120 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $862.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.20.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $4.19 billion. The average EPS estimate is $6.15.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 697 members out of 731 rating the stock outperform, and 34 members rating it underperform. Among 292 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 287 give Jones Lang LaSalle a green thumbs-up, and five give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Jones Lang LaSalle is outperform, with an average price target of $93.43.

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