Belden Inc. (NYSE: BDC) saw its stock price plummet 5% in intraday trading on Thursday, despite reporting first-quarter earnings that exceeded analyst expectations. The sharp decline suggests investors may be focusing on concerns about the company's future outlook rather than its recent performance.

For the first quarter of 2025, Belden reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.60, surpassing the consensus estimate of $1.49. Revenue for the quarter came in at $625 million, also beating expectations of $615.6 million. The company's performance showed significant year-over-year growth, with revenues up 17% compared to the same period last year.

Despite these strong results, investors appear to be reacting negatively to other factors. While Belden provided guidance for the second quarter of 2025, projecting revenues between $645 million and $660 million, the market's response indicates potential concerns about the company's growth trajectory or broader economic headwinds affecting its industry.

The sell-off may also reflect profit-taking by investors following Belden's recent stock performance or worries about the sustainability of its growth rate. As the market digests the full earnings report and management's commentary, it will be crucial to watch for any specific issues that may have triggered this negative sentiment despite the seemingly positive headline numbers.