Red Hat, the world’s largest open-source Linux software company, will report third quarter earnings after the bell Wednesday. What’s at stake for the company?
Analysts expect adjusted earnings per share of 58 cents, which would be 21 percent over last year’s earnings in the same period. It would also mark the company’s largest percentage gain since Q1 June 15.
Analysts expect Red Hat revenue to climb to $621.7 million, 19 percent over the same period last year.
The company’s stock (Nasdaq:RHT) declined 4 percent this year despite toping Wall Street expectations on earnings for ten quarters.
For its stock to rebound, analysts say, Red Hat needs to pound analyst estimates and provide quidance that suggests it might capture market share from its competitors Citrix and VM ware. It currently has 70 percent of the Linux server market, but must grow its software products OPenShift and OpenStack to gain market confidence.
Forecasts say the company can go from $79 to $92 in 2017 if it does so.
Tuesday morning, however, Zacks Investment Research lowered shares of Red Hat from a hold rating to sell.
Overall two investment analysts rated the stock sell, four issued a hold, twenty-three issued a buy rating and one gives it a strong buy rating .
