Groupon posted better-than-expected first-quarter results
Groupon Inc (NASDAQ:GRPN) stepped into the earnings confessional last night with better-than-expected first-quarter losses of $1.63 per share, and revenue that also beat estimates. The company said that while it has faced a slowdown during the coronavirus, its goods unit saw some growth, and it expects to save about $100 million in 2020 due to furloughs and layoffs. In response, GRPN is up 5.8% at $28.80.
Analysts are mum on the quarterly beat this morning, and sentiment coming into today is mostly cautious. Three covering the security call it a "strong buy," four say "hold," and two say "sell." Meanwhile, the consensus 12-month price target of $27.94 is just a 2.6% premium to last night's close.
This lukewarm sentiment isn't all that surprising, considering the massive bear gap GRPN suffered in late-February that it hasn't even come close to closing, thanks to pressure at the 120-day moving average and $35 level. Though it's still a ways off from its 2020 peak near the $60 mark, GRPN has managed to tack on nearly 110% in the last three months.
Shorts, meanwhile, are piling on, as short interest surged 12.6% in the last reporting period. There's still plenty of room on the bearish bandwagon though. These pessimistic positions make up just 5% of Groupon's available float, and would take just two days to buy back at its average pace of trading.