How did OPRA's Q4 2024 earnings surprise impact its stock?

Opera Ltd.'s (OPRA) Q4 2024 earnings report showcased robust revenue growth and strategic developments, positively influencing its stock performance despite some challenges.

1. **Revenue Growth and Guidance Achievement**: Opera exceeded its revenue guidance for the quarter, reporting a total of $145.83 million, surpassing the estimated $138.37 million. This achievement, coupled with a full-year revenue guidance of $470 to $473 million, reflected strong operational performance and market expansion.

2. **Earnings Per Share (EPS) and Profit Margin**: The diluted EPS for Q4 2024 was $0.32, slightly higher than the estimated $0.23. This indicated improved profitability, although the net margin of 14% was down from the previous quarter's 16%. The slight dip in profit margin did not overshadow the overall positive revenue outperformance.

|code|Ticker|Name|Date|Percentage Change|Percentage Change YoY|market_code|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|OPRA|OPRA.O|Opera|20240102|-3.9305||185|
|OPRA|OPRA.O|Opera|20240103|2.8324||185|
|OPRA|OPRA.O|Opera|20240104|-4.4376||185|
|OPRA|OPRA.O|Opera|20240105|-3.763||185|
|OPRA|OPRA.O|Opera|20240108|5.6572||185|
|OPRA|OPRA.O|Opera|20240109|-4.9606||185|
|OPRA|OPRA.O|Opera|20240110|-0.2486||185|
|OPRA|OPRA.O|Opera|20240111|-0.7475||185|
|OPRA|OPRA.O|Opera|20240112|-2.9289||185|
|OPRA|OPRA.O|Opera|20240116|-3.0172||185|

3. **Stock Performance and Market Reaction**: Following the earnings release, Opera's stock experienced a significant surge, with a substantial increase of 22.59%. This positive momentum was sustained as the stock reached a 52-week high, reflecting investor confidence in Opera's strategic direction and financial performance.

4. **Strategic Developments and Future Outlook**: Opera's introduction of the refreshed browser Opera One R2, along with strong advertising revenue growth, particularly in the e-commerce and travel categories, underscored its strategic focus on user engagement and monetization opportunities. The company's optimistic full-year outlook and guidance adjustments further supported investor optimism.

In conclusion, OPRA's Q4 2024 earnings report showcased strong revenue growth, strategic initiatives, and a positive future outlook, contributing to a significant uptick in its stock performance.