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Here's Why NeoGenomics, Inc. Is Dropping Today

By Brian Feroldi Fool.com

What happened

Shares ofNeoGenomics (NASDAQ: NEO) fell by 10% as of 12:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesdayafter the provider of cancer genetic testing services reported first-quarter earnings.

Image source: Getty Images.

So what

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Here's a review of the key highlights from the quarter:

  • Revenue rose by 3% to$61.7 million. By contrast, Wall Street was only expecting $61.4 million.
  • Digging into revenue growth, testing volume grew by 15% year over year, but revenue per clinical genetic test decreased by 9%. Management said the decline was caused by rapid growth in the company's lower-priced immunohistochemistry tests.
  • GAAP net loss was $0.04 per share. However, non-GAAP earnings -- which adjusted for non-recurring costs and amortization -- came in at $0.03. That matched consensus analyst expectations.

Looking ahead, management offered up the following guidance:

  • Second-quarter revenue is expected to land between $62 million to $64 million. That's quite a bit shy of the $66 million in revenue that Wall Street was expecting.
  • Second-quarter non-GAAP EPS range is $0.03 and $0.04, the high endof which matches expectations.
  • Full-year 2017 revenue range was reduced from $260 million to $2775 million down to $255 million to $265 million. For comparison, Wall Street was looking for $264 million.
  • Full-year 2017 non-GAAPEPS range was cut back by a penny to $0.17 to $0.21.

Traders reacted harshly to the dialed-back forecast, hence shares are tumbling today.

Now what

While today's drop is unpleasant, NeoGenomics' management team did its best to remind shareholders that its long-term picture is looking bright. Specifically, the company stated that it has finally completed all its integration activities related to itsClarient acquisition, which should allow for profit growth in the back half of 2016. Its pharma services division also reported a $41.5 millionbacklog at the end of the quarter, which shows that the company's testing services remain in demand. Finally, its new lab in Switzerland is scheduled to open in the third quarter, which will allow it to start marketing its services in Europe.

Given all of the above, NeoGenomics looks poised to continue its recent history of rapid revenue growth. If true, then it is possible that its stock will continue to vastly outperform the healthcare sector in general as measured by the Health Care Select SPDR ETF (NYSEMKT: XLV).

NEO data by YCharts.

All in all, NeoGenomics seems positioned for growth even though its short-term results might be disappointing. If you are a believer in this company's long-term potential, then you might want to look at today's drop as an opportunity to get in.

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Brian Feroldi has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.