1. Netflix has an ace up its sleeve
House of Cards was apparently pretty good for Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX).
The leading video service provider kicked off the week with a blowout quarter on Monday night.
Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX)’s adjusted profit of $0.31 a share blew past the $0.19 a share that Wall Street forecasted, and the reborn dot-com darling closed out the period with a better-than-expected 36.3 million global streaming subscribers. Revenue topped $1 billion in a quarter for the first time in Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX)’s history.
Some of this success can be attributed to the success of February’s House of Cards, but things are just starting to get going on that front. Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) revealed this week that its latest series — Eli Roth’s Hemlock Grove — attracted more viewers during its opening weekend than House of Cards.
Remember when Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) was left for dead in late 2011? The stock hit yet another 52-week high this week.
2. It’s the wood that makes it good
Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc (NYSE:LL) hit fresh highs this week, and that’s easy to see once you delve into the flooring retailer’s better-than-expected quarterly results.
The leading stand-alone seller of hardwood flooring saw comps skyrocket 15.2% during the first three months of this year. Net sales climbed 22.5% to $230.4 million and earnings nearly doubled to $0.57 a share. Wall Street was betting on net income of $0.42 a share on just $215.5 million in revenue.
Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc (NYSE:LL) is naturally boosting its guidance for all of 2013.
It was easy to see this coming. The chain has been blowing past analyst targets with ease in recent quarters, and the pent-up demand for stylish planks and other high-end flooring that homeowners feared to act on when home prices were falling finally has an optimistic outlet for release.
3. Put me in Coach
Investors may have gotten nervous when Coach, Inc. (NYSE:COH) posted disappointing holiday quarter results earlier this year, but this time around the retailer had it in the bag.
Coach, Inc. (NYSE:COH) stock popped after posting better-than-expected profitability. North American comps rising 1% wasn’t very impressive, but Coach is having surprising success with its products for men and business in China is booming.
Coach, Inc. (NYSE:COH) also boosted its dividend, a move that suggests that things will get better for the handbag maker that’s been slumping lately at the expense of a faster-growing rival.
4. Burrito and a buzz
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG) is looking to upgrade its libations.
The 1,458-unit fast-casual chain will add premium margaritas — handmade with Patron silver tequila, triple sec, agave nectar, and fresh lime — to more than 900 of its restaurants in time for next month’s Cinco de Mayo festivities.
