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Rovi ( ROVI ) stock jumped as much as 19% Friday to an 11-month high, following the company’s fourth-quarter earnings late Thursday that beat estimates, as revenue growth reversed four straight quarters of deceleration. The focus now shifts to first-quarter performance and Rovi’s ability to renew licensing agreements with Comcast ( CMCSA ) and Dish Network ( DISH ). Rovi provides technology for interactive TV program guides licensed by AT&T ( T ), Comcast, Time Warner Cable ( TWC ), Dish and others, used for interactive TV guides and video-on-demand services. It also provides advertising services, including Big Data analytics that provides TV-audience insights and ad campaign management in various entertainment sectors. It posted Q4 revenue of $149.5 million, up 11% year over year and topping the consensus estimate of $130.7 million. It was the first time in five quarters that Rovi revenue accelerated. It reported earnings per share minus items of 65 cents, smashing estimates of 37 cents. That reversed four straight quarters of slower EPS growth. Rovi stock was up 14%, near 20.50, in afternoon trading in the stock market today . During Q4, Rovi renewed a technology licensing agreement with AT&T, which now includes the DirecTV footprint, for a seven-year term, in addition to a renewed licensing agreement with Sony ( SNE ). “In 2016, Rovi is focused on successfully renewing our IP Licenses with Comcast and Dish and on building our product portfolio,” Rovi CEO Tom Carson said in the earnings release . “We believe achieving these goals will help drive stockholder value for years to come.” While Rovi said it expects to successfully renew agreements with Comcast and Dish, its revenue and EPS from those agreements are not included in current estimates. Excluding revenue from Comcast and Dish, Rovi anticipates 2016 revenue of $490 million to $520 million and EPS less items of $1.35 to $1.65. Andy Hargreaves, analyst at Pacific Crest Securities, said the renewals with Comcast and Dish remain likely but are far from certain. “Rovi is in the latter stages of negotiations with Comcast and Dish, as the current deals expire over the next two months,” Hargreaves wrote in a research note. “Rovi’s history suggests it is more likely than not to complete the deals successfully, but a delayed negotiation or even a lawsuit remains highly possible, either of which could drive significant stock volatility.” Scalper1 News
Scalper1 News