Oracle Dodges Earnings Hangman (ORCL)

Oracle Corporation (NASDAQ: ORCL) has managed to escape the hangman so far after earnings, but the initial caveat is that guidance is not yet out.  Earnings came in at $0.62 EPS on an adjusted basis on sales of $9 billion.  Estimates from Thomson Reuters were $0.56 EPS but sales were just at $9.02 billion.  Income from operations was up 11% to $3.3 billion on a GAAP basis.

The company noted that it is on track to deliver the highest operating margins in the company’s history this year as it is focusing on high margin systems where hardware and software are engineered to work together.

Hardware revenue for engineered systems grew 139% this quarter and it claims to have a record pipeline going into the fourth quarter.

Unfortunately, Oracle did not release its guidance and that means that this is unfinished business until after the corporate conference call.

Oracle closed up 1.1% at $30.10 and the initial after-hours reaction has shares up 1.9% at $30.60.  Again, until guidance is given this report should be considered unfinished business.

JON C. OGG