Unitedhealth Group (NYSE: UNH) reported earnings on Jan. 19. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), UnitedHealth Group met expectations on revenues and crushed expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue increased, and earnings per share improved significantly.

Gross margins dropped, operating margins contracted, and net margins improved.

Revenue details
UnitedHealth Group logged revenue of $25.9 billion. The 10 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated a top line of $25.7 billion. Sales were 7.8% higher than the prior-year quarter's $24.0 billion.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions.

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $1.29. The 21 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $1.03 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $1.17 for Q4 were 23% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.95 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Figures may be non-GAAP to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 28.1%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 8.0%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 4.9%, 60 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $27.1 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.19.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $108.4 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.78.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 3,315 members out of 3,470 rating the stock outperform, and 155 members rating it underperform. Among 1,083 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 1,064 give UnitedhHealth Group a green thumbs-up, and 19 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on UnitedHealth Group is outperform, with an average price target of $59.42.

If you're interested in health-care stocks, you might want to expand your horizons to find maximum returns. Follow the money and meet a prime candidate for major returns in our new report, "Discover the Next Rule-Breaking Multibagger." Click here for instant access to this free report.