Pitney Bowes Inc. (PBI - Free Report) is one of the largest providers of mail processing equipment and integrated mail solutions across the world. It offers a full suite of equipment, supplies, software and services for end-to-end mainstream solutions, which enables its customers to optimize the flow of physical and electronic mail, documents and packages across their operations.

PBI expects SMB business to benefit from positive industry trends, launch of new products and digital capabilities.The company’s steady transformation process over the past three years to create long-term flexibility for investment reinstates hope. Over the past few quarters, the company’s Digital Commerce Solutions (“DCS”) has acted as a major profit churner, driving top-line performance.

However, on the flip side, sustained weak performance in its software and North American Mailing business has been hurting PBI’s performance for the past few quarters. Though the company has adopted multiple measures to boost profits at the software segment, it has not yet produced tangible results.

In the last four trailing quarters, PBI has missed earnings estimates thrice resulting in an average negative surprise of 10.3%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Currently, PBI has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) but that could change following its first-quarter 2017 earnings report which has just released. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

We have highlighted some of the key details from the just-released announcement below.

Earnings: For the first-quarter 2017 the company reported adjusted earnings per share of 36 cents, which topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 34 cents.

Pitney Bowes Inc. Price and EPS Surprise

Pitney Bowes Inc. Price and EPS Surprise | Pitney Bowes Inc. Quote

Revenues: Revenues came in at $836.4 million, edged down 0.9% on a constant currency basis year over year.

Key Stats: During the first quarter of 2017, the company paid $35 million in dividends and used $12 million in restructuring payments. Further it reiterated its full-year 2017 guidance. It continues to expect 2017 adjusted earnings per share to lie in the range $1.70–$1.85. Revenues, on a reported basis, are expected to be in the range of a 2% decline to 1% growth, when compared to 2016.

Stock Price: PBI shares inched up 0.75% in pre-market trading at the time of writing this report, as investors cheered the healthy earnings beat. It would be interesting to see how the market reacts to the results during the trading session today.