Knight Transportation (NYSE: KNX) reported earnings on Jan. 25. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
Knight Transportation booked revenue of $224.1 million. The 16 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for revenue of $219.5 million. Sales were 19% higher than the prior-year quarter's $188.3 million.

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

EPS details
EPS came in at $0.22. The 23 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.21 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.22 for Q4 were 29% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.17 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 53.6%, 2,530 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 13.0%, 200 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 7.8%, 20 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $208.2 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.16.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $918.5 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.86.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 105 members out of 126 rating the stock outperform, and 21 members rating it underperform. Among 46 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 39 give Knight Transportation a green thumbs-up, and seven give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Knight Transportation is hold, with an average price target of $16.56.

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