Gartner Keeps Moving Forward

Gartner Inc.�(NYSE:IT)�announced strong second-quarter 2018 results late Wednesday, highlighting broad-based growth across the business and the recent sale of several non-core segments.

With shares of the research and advisory services leader up 3% on Thursday and flirting with fresh all-time highs in response, let's dig deeper to see what Gartner accomplished over the last few months, as well as what investors should be watching going forward.

Image source: Getty Images.

Gartner results: The raw numbers Metric

Q2 2018

Q2 2017

Year-Over-Year Change

GAAP revenue	$1.001 billion	$844 million	18.6%
GAAP net income (loss)	$46 million	($92 million)	N/A
GAAP earnings (loss) per diluted share	$0.50	($1.03)	N/A

Data source: Gartner.��

What happened with Gartner this quarter? Though Gartner�acquired CEB's Talent Assessment and Workforce Surveys businesses in April 2017, the company subsequently determined they were not aligned with their core focus on research and advisory services for enterprise customers. As such, as it previously announced, Gartner divested the talent assessment portion for $403 million on April 3, 2018, then sold the workforce surveys side for $28 million on May 1, 2018. This quarter's results include roughly $1 million in adjusted revenue and around $100,000 in adjusted EBITDA from those businesses. Adjusted revenue excluding divested operations grew 14%. Gartner repurchased 0.5 million shares for $68 million, and paid down $554 million of debt�during the quarter. On an adjusted (non-GAAP) basis -- so excluding items like acquisition expenses -- earnings per share grew 17% to $1.03. Adjusted research segment revenue climbed 14% to $771 million. Total segment contract value increased 12% to $2.94 billion. Adjusted events segment revenue increased 22% to $111 million. Gartner held 24 events during the quarter (two fewer than in last year's second quarter) hosting 20,896 attendees. Adjusted consulting segment revenue grew 5% to $96 million. Consulting backlog grew 16% to $106 million. Other segment revenue fell 51% to $23 million, comprised primarily of CEB businesses. What management had to say

Referencing Gartner's equally strong first quarter, CEO Gene Hall stated: "We got off to a great start for the year and that continued through the second quarter. The leading indicators across all parts of our business are overwhelmingly positive, and we are well-positioned for sustained, long-term double digit growth.

Looking forward�

For the full year of 2018, Gartner now expects total revenue of $3.93 billion to $4.035 billion (up slightly from $3.92 billion to $4.025 billion previously), and reiterated its outlook for adjusted earnings per share of $3.51 to $3.91.

In the end, there were no big surprises in Gartner's slightly better-than-expected quarter. Rather, the company is demonstrating broad strength after honing its focus to start the year, and the stock is responding in kind.

Top Growth Stocks To Invest In 2019

tags:CBB,AAP,LINC,

Major benchmarks extended last week's gains on Monday, with investors maintaining their focus on jobs growth rather than ongoing trade tensions as another corporate earnings season draws near.�

But several individual companies enjoyed much greater gains than the broader market. Read on to learn why shares of Groupon (NASDAQ:GRPN), Boeing (NYSE:BA) and Pretium Resources (NYSE:PVG) each jumped today.

Image source: Getty Images.

Groupon is looking for a buyer

Shares of Groupon jumped 10.8% after Recode reported over the weekend that the online daily deals site is searching for a buyer.

With the caveat that Groupon has "made it known for some time" it was open to considering a sale, Recode elaborated that Groupon and bankers representing the company have ramped their efforts by approaching several prospective acquirers over the past month.

Top Growth Stocks To Invest In 2019: Cincinnati Bell Inc(CBB)

Advisors' Opinion:

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  Friday was mixed on Wall Street, with the Nasdaq Composite eking out minor gains even as most other major benchmarks finished down modestly. Market participants seemed largely content to see how things played out on the geopolitical front between the U.S. and North Korea, and key reversals in other financial markets helped send 10-year Treasury rates back below 3% and also resulted in a substantial drop in crude oil prices. Despite generally quiet conditions, bad news sent shares of certain companies lower. Accuray (NASDAQ:ARAY), Cincinnati Bell (NYSE:CBB), and Chesapeake Energy (NYSE:CHK) were among the worst performers on the day. Here's why they did so poorly.

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  Cincinnati Bell (NYSE:CBB) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 9th. The utilities provider reported ($0.19) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.15) by ($0.04). Cincinnati Bell had a negative net margin of 2.77% and a negative return on equity of 0.61%. The company had revenue of $296.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $296.69 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted ($0.01) earnings per share. Cincinnati Bell’s revenue was up 6.5% on a year-over-year basis. sell-side analysts forecast that Cincinnati Bell Inc. will post -0.66 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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  MarineMax (NYSE: HZO) and Advance Auto Parts (NYSE:AAP) are both retail/wholesale companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, risk, dividends, profitability, earnings, institutional ownership and valuation.

• [By Lisa Levin] Companies Reporting Before The Bell Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE: AAP) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.97 per share on revenue of $2.91 billion. Kohl's Corporation (NYSE: KSS) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.5 per share on revenue of $3.95 billion. The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TJX) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $1.02 per share on revenue of $8.47 billion. AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE: AZO) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $13.01 per share on revenue of $2.72 billion. Dycom Industries, Inc. (NYSE: DY) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.7 per share on revenue of $734.86 million. Eaton Vance Corp. (NYSE: EV) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.79 per share on revenue of $425.42 million. Photronics, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLAB) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.07 per share on revenue of $124.17 million. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBRL) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $1.93 per share on revenue of $715.15 million. Radcom Ltd. (NASDAQ: RDCM) is expected to post quarterly earnings at $1.96 per share on revenue of $718.59 million. Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCO) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.04 per share on revenue of $718.96 million. CYREN Ltd. (NASDAQ: CYRN) is estimated to report quarterly loss at $0.08 per share on revenue of $7.72 million. Ferroglobe PLC (NYSE: GSM) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.16 per share on revenue of $559.15 million. Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Limited (NYSE: RDY) is estimated to report earnings for its fourth quarter. BioLineRx Ltd. (NASDAQ: BLRX) is expected to report quarterly loss at $0.07 per share. Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE: TOL) is estimated to post quarterly earnings at $0.76 per share on revenue of $1.58 billion.

   

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  The Top Stock Market Stories for Tuesday Despite all of the political noise, both China and the United States have agreed to take a step back and seriously pursue talks that may prevent further tariff impositions. The biggest development on the trade front is that the Trump administration is considering a plan to lift a sales ban on Chinese mobile giant ZTE. Shares of Micron Technology Inc. (Nasdaq: MU) are pushing higher after the company announced a $10 billion plan to buy back stock. Micron reported earnings on Monday, and the Boise-based firm easily topped Wall Street expectations. Facebook Inc. (Nasdaq: FB) was pushing a bit higher on Tuesday as the firm prepared to address data privacy issues in Europe. The social media giant's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, is set to speak before European lawmakers this morning. Zuckerberg will testify this morning, just three days after the European Union enforced more stringent laws on consumer data protection. Three Stocks to Watch Today: GM, KSS, TSLA Shares of General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) were pushing higher after the auto giant reported that China will be lifting restrictions on U.S. automotive parts and cars. But GM isn't the only beneficiary. Look for shares of Ford Motor Co.�(NYSE: F) and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV�(Nasdaq: FCAU) to also get a boost out of the Chinese economy. Shares of Kohl's Corp.�(NYSE: KSS) popped 5% after the firm beat earnings expectations and easily topped same-store sales during the first quarter. The company also raised its 2019 earnings numbers, which helped fuel investor sentiment. Shares of Tesla Inc. (Nasdaq: TSLA) are in focus
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Top Growth Stocks To Invest In 2019: Lincoln Educational Services Corporation(LINC)

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  Lincoln Educational Services Co. (NASDAQ:LINC) – Equities research analysts at Barrington Research cut their Q3 2018 earnings per share estimates for shares of Lincoln Educational Services in a report released on Wednesday, May 9th. Barrington Research analyst A. Paris. Jr now anticipates that the company will post earnings per share of ($0.02) for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of ($0.01). Barrington Research has a “Buy” rating and a $2.50 price target on the stock. Barrington Research also issued estimates for Lincoln Educational Services’ FY2018 earnings at ($0.14) EPS.