Oracle stock gained ground Friday, even though the database software specialist reported quarterly results that missed earnings estimates amid the company's major cloud transition and new business model. The Oracle earnings report came late Thursday.
The company reported adjusted earnings of $1.13 a share on revenue of $10.5 billion. Analysts expected Oracle to report adjusted earnings of $1.18 a share, on revenue of $10.5 billion. Revenue edged up 4% from the year-ago quarter.
Oracle stock fell at first, but ended the day 1.5% higher, closing at 77.82 on the stock market today. Shares currently trade below the stock's 50-day and 200-day moving averages.
"In Q3, Oracle delivered over 7% constant currency revenue growth — our highest quarterly organic revenue growth rate since we began our transition to the cloud," Chief Executive Safra Catz said in written remarks with the Oracle earnings release.
Oracle's Acquisition Of Cerner
In December, Oracle announced it would acquire medical records company Cerner through an all-cash tender offer for $95 a share, or roughly $28.3 billion in equity value. It is Oracle's largest acquisition ever and moves the database software giant deeper into the health care sector.
Oracle stock set an all-time high on Dec. 10, the day it reported fiscal second-quarter earnings that topped estimates. Revenue jumped 6% to $10.4 billion, its best growth since 2018. But Oracle stock is down 16% since announcing the Cerner deal on Dec. 20.
"We look for management to better articulate its vision for Oracle in the health care vertical and discuss the road ahead," Monness Crespi Hardt analyst Brian White said in a note to clients.
Earlier Oracle Stock Gains Wiped Out
"Oracle's stock gains — experienced after delivering a strong fiscal second quarter — have been more than wiped out by announcing a poorly communicated, large acquisition that left investors scratching their heads and dumping their shares," White wrote. He has a buy rating on Oracle stock and price target of 126.
Over the last several years, Oracle has transitioned from an antiquated business of on-premises database software licensing and maintenance. It's now a subscription-based software model that taps the benefits of cloud computing.
Please follow Brian Deagon on Twitter at @IBD_BDeagon for more on tech stocks, analysis and financial markets.
