Hat's off to the earnings elite

Sohu. Rhymes with tofu and dofu.

Stock of the No. 1 portal in China was just as mushy yesterday. Though the Co beat expectations, earnings were down for Q2. The market was lukewarm in response, which got me thinking about the companies that have beaten expectations and raised guidance

No, Sohu didn't raise guidance. That's a conversation that could happen by the end of this year since Sohu is supposedly the exclusive online presence in China for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

But as for companies that have blown out expectations and raised guidance, this is a short list:

Crocs (CROX)
Garmin (GRMN)
Navteq (NVT)
Under Armor (UA)

Research in Motion (RIMM) beat earnings expectations, but didn't raise guidance. However, they were one of the few companies to announce a split (3-for-1).

On the eve of Q2 earnings:

CROX $50
GRMN $83
NVT $54
RIMM $165
UA $55

Today's PPS
CROX $59
GRMN $96
NVT $63
RIMM $217
UA $63

There was money to be made for buyers before earnings, but there's been significant pop for buyers after earnings, too. How can anyone dispute the pop in a stock that gets the most bullish guidance from its CEO?

That, basically, is the difference between the relative safety of a cash-making Co in the midst of stellar growth versus a small or micro cap that has yet to register any revenue. Two worlds, two different definitions of success.

Pupule Paul is long CROX and UA.