Altera (Nasdaq: ALTR) reported earnings on Jan. 24. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Altera beat expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins contracted across the board.

Revenue details
Altera reported revenue of $458 million. The 24 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated sales of $446 million. Sales were 18% lower than the prior-year quarter's $555 million.

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

EPS details
EPS came in at $0.45. The earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.42 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.45 for Q4 were 36% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.71 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 70.1%, 90 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 35.0%, 1,240 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 32%, 970 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $455 million.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.03.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 343 members out of 372 rating the stock outperform, and 29 members rating it underperform. Among 112 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 107 give Altera a green thumbs-up, and five give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Altera is outperform, with an average price target of $39.37.

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