Earnings Review: LNKD, LF, Z, WFM, MA

Published on Sunday, 06 May 2012 12:42 Written by Todd Shriber

In what turned out to be a week marred by a slack April jobs and one that, to this points, represents the worst weekly performance of the year for the S&P 500, finding good news isn’t easy. Frankly, finding concerning news is far easier. Most of stocks that ended the week looking somewhat decent got there by being the subject of takeovers, think P.F. Chang's China Bistro (NASDAQ: PFCB) and Sunoco (NYSE: SUN) as two examples.

All that said, there were some pleasant surprises on the earnings. That is if one knew where to look. Here are five examples of stocks that are giving investors reasons to take a second look even in a challenging market environment.

LinkedIn (NYSE: LNKD):

The shares soared 7.2% after the social networking site for professionals said its first-quarter profit jumped to $5 million, or 4 cents per share, from $2.1 million, or break-even per share, a year earlier. On an adjusted basis, the company earned 15 cents. Revenue doubled to $188.5 million from $93.9 million. Analysts expected a profit of 9 cents on $179 million in revenue.

LinkedIn also offered up some bullish guidance. The company raised its second-quarter revenue guidance to $210-$15 million, above the $208 million analysts are expecting. Full-year revenue guidance is now $880-$900 million, up from $840-$860 million. Analysts are expecting $876 million.

LeapFrog Enterprises (NYSE: LF):

That stock popped by almost 15% Friday after the company said it lost 14 cents a share in the first quarter on revenue of $72 million. Analysts expected a loss of 26 cents a share on sales of $51 million. LeapFrog expects a second-quarter loss of 18-20 cents on revenue growth of 17%-22%. Analysts are expecting 21.4% growth to $66.1 million, and a loss of 18 cents a share.

The company forecast a full-year profit of 52-57 cents on sales growth of 10%-13%. Analysts expect EPS of 50 cents on revenue growth of 10.3%.

Zillow (NASDAQ: Z):

The online real estate data provider end the week higher by 12.4% after the company posted a first-quarter profit of $1.7 million, or 6 cents a share, compared with a year-earlier loss of $826,000, or 6 cents a share. Revenue climbed to $22.8 million from $11.3 million. Analysts expected a profit of 4 cents a share on $21.5 million in revenue. The company forecast second-quarter revenue of $25.5-$26.5 million, topping the $24.8 million analysts are expecting.

Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFM):

The pricey grocery store operator ended the week with a gain of better than 8% fter the company said its fiscal second-quarter profit rose 31% to $117.7 million, or 64 cents per share, from $89.9 million, or 51 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue climbed 14% to $2.67 billion. Analysts expected a profit of 59 cents on sales of $2.67 billion. Same-store sales increased 9.5%.

MasterCard (NYSE: MA):

An equity holding of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-A) said its first-quarter profit rose to $682 million, or $5.36 per share, on revenue of $1.8 billion. Analysts expected a profit of $5.29 per share on revenue of $1.73 billion.