=LendingTree (TREE) reported earnings on Thur 23 Feb 17 (b/o)

LendingTree beats by $0.09, beats on revs; guides Q1 revs above consensus; guides FY17 revs in-line:

• Reports Q4 (Dec) earnings of $0.87 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.09 better than the Capital IQ Consensus of $0.78; revenues rose 28.7% year/year to $100.8 mln vs the $97.43 mln Capital IQ Consensus. 
  • Record Variable Marketing Margin of $36.8 million represents an increase of $8.7 million, or 31%, over fourth quarter 2015.
  • Record Adjusted EBITDA of $18.9 million increased $6.9 million, or 58%, over fourth quarter 2015.
  • Total loan requests in the quarter of 4.1 million grew 57% compared to fourth quarter 2015
  • Revenue from mortgage products of $55.4 million represents an increase of 18% over fourth quarter 2015 and reflects 4% sequential growth during what is typically a seasonally challenging quarter.
  • Record revenue from non-mortgage products of $45.4 million in the fourth quarter represents an increase of 45% over the fourth quarter 2015 and comprised 45% of total revenue.
• Co issues upside guidance for Q1, sees Q1 revs of $122-126 mln vs. $121.11 mln Capital IQ Consensus; Variable marketing margin $41-43 mln; EBITDA $20.5-22 mln.
• Co issues in-line guidance for FY17, sees FY17 revs of $500-520 mln vs. $511.78 mln Capital IQ Consensus; VMM $175-185 mln; EBITDA $93-97 mln.