Alliance Data Systems Q1 Results Beat View, Lifts 2015 Earnings Outlook

(RTTNews) - Alliance Data Systems Corp. (ADS) reported first-quarter net income attributable to shareholders of $162.6 million or $2.32 per share, up from $137.4 million or $2.08 per share in the prior-year period.

Core earnings for the quarter were $3.65 per share, compared to $2.79 per share in the year-ago quarter. On average, 22 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report earnings of $3.44 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Revenue for the quarter grew 30 percent to $1.60 billion from $1.23 billion in the same period last year. Analysts had a consensus revenue estimate of $1.54 billion for the quarter.

Looking ahead to the second quarter, Alliance Data Systems forecasts core earnings of $3.20 per share, or $3.32 per share on a constant currency basis, and revenue of about $1.5 billion. Street expects the company to report second-quarter earnings of $3.51 per share on revenue of $1.55 billion.

For fiscal 2015, the company raised its outlook for core earnings to $14.90 per share from the prior outlook of $14.80 per share, but maintained its revenue guidance of $6.5 billion.

Analysts expect the company to report fiscal 2015 earnings of $14.88 per share on revenue of $6.53 billion.