What happened Shares of MultiPlan (NYSE: MPLN) were soaring 19.6% higher as of 11:35 a.m. EDT on Thursday. The big gain came after the healthcare technology solutions provider announced better-than-expected first-quarter results before the market opened. So what MultiPlan reported Q1 revenue of $254.9 million, up 1.1% year over year and well above the consensus analysts' estimate of $248.5 million. The company posted net income of $45.9 million, or $0.07 per share. This result handily beat the average analysts' earnings estimate of $0.01 per share. It also reflected significant improvement from the net loss of $2.6 million, or $0.01 per share, in the prior-year period. Image source: Getty Images. The company's performance was especially notable considering that its customers, including health insurers, continued to face headwinds from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, MultiPlan's bottom line was boosted by a $40.4 million change in the fair value of private placement warrants and unvested founder shares. Now what Probably the best news of all in MultiPlan's Q1 update was its guidance. The company expects Q2 revenue will be between $260 million and $275 million, higher than the consensus analysts' estimate of $249 million. It also looks for full-year revenue of between $1.04 billion and $1.1 billion. The low end of that range is above the average analysts' revenue estimate of $1.03 billion. 10 stocks we like better than MultiPlan CorporationWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.* David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the ten best stocks for investors to buy right now… and MultiPlan Corporation wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of May 11, 2021 Keith Speights has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.Source