LendingTree Starts To Recover As Investors Cheer CEO's Bullish Comments

LendingTree Inc

lost more than $30 per share on Wednesday, despite the release of increased fiscal year 2015 guidance on Tuesday night. After initially moving higher in Tuesday's after-hours session, shares since tumbled more than 20 percent. Traders attributed the downside to concerning comments coming from a company executive during a presentation Wednesday morning at the Needham Growth Conference, however, multiple analysts that spoke with Benzinga said the 25 percent

. In an exclusive interview, LendingTree CEO Doug Lebda spoke with Benzinga on Wednesday afternoon. The man who founded the company in 1996 stated he has "never been more bullish on the future of the company than I have been in 19 years." See Also: EXCLUSIVE: LendingTree CEO Bullish On Company; Discusses Selloff Speaking on the company's guidance, Lebda said, "Because we did not raise our 2016 guidance, [traders speculated that] we will not have sequential growth." He said 2016 guidance is expected to be updated with first quarter results, which is the company's typical practice. The CEO also suggested investors "new to the story" may be concerned that raising rates will negatively impact the business. "Reality is just the opposite," said Lebda. "Since 2011 as originations have fallen, our mortgage business has grown because lenders need us more."

its full year fiscal 2015 revenue expectation to a new range of $252.5 million to $253.5 million from a prior range of $244 million to $247 million. Wall Street analysts were expecting LendingTree's revenue to total $246.32 million in fiscal 2015. LendingTree also raised its fiscal 2015 Adjusted EBITDA guidance to a range of $38.8 million to $39.8 million from a prior range of $38.3 million to $38.8 million.