The Iress Ltd (ASX: IRE) share price has charged 42.4% higher in 2021. That means the financial services software company has managed to outpace many of its S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) peers.
Iress is set to announce its half-year results for the period ended 30 June 2021 (1H 2021) tomorrow. Let's take a look at how the company's share price reacted in the last earnings season.
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How did the Iress share price respond last earnings season
It's worth taking a look at Iress' full-year results back in February. The financial data and software group reported its FY20 earnings on 18 February 2021.
The Iress share price jumped 4.6% higher on the day of the earnings result. That surge came after Iress outperformed its reinstated guidance numbers including a 6.6% increase in operational revenue to $542.6 million.
Iress reported full-year net profit after tax (NPAT) down 9% to $59.1 million back in February. It also provided guidance of $63 million in FY21. Investors will be watching closely tomorrow to see how the half-year NPAT is tracking against that goal.
Interestingly, the Iress share price climbed on the day it released its results. However, it didn't reach that same $10.25 per share closing price again until May 21. Investors will be hoping there is a stronger upwards trajectory following tomorrow's half-year results release.
Certainly, that was not the case 12 months ago following the financial data group's half-year 2020 result. The Iress share price slumped 6% lower following its 20 August 2020 update and hit as low as $9.44 per share in early October.
Iress reported a 12% surge in half-year revenue to $270.7 million but investors narrowed in on the weaker earnings numbers. The company's NPAT fell 14% to $26.3 million for the half and was unable to provide financial guidance for the full year given the uncertain trading environment at the time.
With tomorrow's half-year result on investors' minds, and a recent history of big share price moves, Iress will be one to watch early on Thursday morning.
