=Nuance Communications NUAN) reported earnings Tue 28 Nov 2017 (a/h)

Nuance Communications beats by $0.05, beats on revs; guides Q1 EPS below consensus, revs above consensus; guides FY18 EPS in-line, revs above consensus 

• Reports Q4 (Sep) earnings of $0.20 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.05 better than the Capital IQ Consensus of $0.15; revenues fell 7.4% year/year to $474.7 mln vs the $457.09 mln Capital IQ Consensus. 
  • Net new bookings for the fourth quarter of $424.4 million, down 18% from $516.9 million a year ago.
• Co issues mixed guidance for Q1, sees EPS of $0.19-0.22, excluding non-recurring items, vs. $0.25 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate; sees Q1 revs of $486-500 mln vs. $485.06 mln Capital IQ Consensus Estimate.
• Co issues guidance for FY18, sees EPS of $1.06-1.15, excluding non-recurring items, vs. $1.11 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate; sees FY18 revs of $2.03-2.08 bln vs. $2.01 bln Capital IQ Consensus; reiterate organic revenue growth guidance for FY18 of 2% to 4%, representing a 600 basis point improvement over FY17 at the midpoint of the range. non-GAAP gross margins to be up ~ 120 basis points in fiscal 2018 compared to fiscal 2017. Additionally, we are targeting FY18 non-GAAP operating margins between 26.5% and 27.0% as we focus on cost efficiencies while continuing to strengthen our security infrastructure.
• Co has appointed Tom Beaudoin as its executive vice president, Business Transformation. In this role, Mr. Beaudoin will oversee a variety of initiatives intended to fuel the company's growth by rationalizing its portfolio, identifying cost synergies and optimizing its structure and operations. He reports to Paul Ricci, chairman and CEO.