InterDigital (NASDAQ: IDCC) reported Q4 EPS of $3.85, $0.01 better than the analyst estimate of $3.84. Revenue for the quarter came in at $273.9 million versus the consensus estimate of $262.57 million.

Fourth Quarter 2016 Financial Highlights

• Fourth quarter 2016 total revenue was $273.9 million, compared to $112.1 million in fourth quarter 2015. The $161.8 million increase in total revenue was primarily attributable to a license agreement signed during the quarter. Primarily as a result of that agreement, past patent royalties totaled $180.3 million.
• Fourth quarter 2016 recurring revenue was $93.6 million, consisting of current patent royalties and current technology solutions revenue, and was relatively flat compared to fourth quarter 2015.
• Operating expenses were $64.7 million, a 10% increase compared to $58.8 million in fourth quarter 2015, primarily attributable to higher incentive-based performance compensation and patent amortization, and due diligence costs. Intellectual property enforcement expenses were $3.5 million, a 30% decrease compared to $5.1 million in fourth quarter 2015.
• Net income1 was $136.5 million, or $3.85 per diluted share, compared to $33.0 million, or $0.92 per diluted share, in fourth quarter 2015.

Near-Term Outlook:

InterDigital currently expects that sales volumes of the company's per-unit licensees in fourth quarter 2016 and the new agreements signed during 2016 will drive first quarter 2017 total revenue to a range of between $91 million and $96 million, comprised entirely of recurring revenue. This revenue guidance is based on royalty reports received to date, and does not include the potential impact of any new patent license, technology solutions or patent sale agreements that may be signed, or any arbitration or dispute resolutions that may occur, during the balance of first quarter 2017.

For earnings history and earnings-related data on InterDigital (IDCC) click here.