VeriSign (Nasdaq: VRSN) reported earnings on Jan. 26. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins contracted, operating margins improved, net margins expanded.

Revenue details
VeriSign recorded revenue of $203.6 million. The 13 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted a top line of $203.7 million. Sales were 15% higher than the prior-year quarter's $178.8 million.

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

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.40. The 14 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.41 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS were $0.36 for Q4 compared to -$0.22 per share for the prior-year quarter.

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 79.4%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 47.3%, 690 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 26.4%, 4,930 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $208.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.43.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $878.5 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.90.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 263 members out of 313 rating the stock outperform, and 50 members rating it underperform. Among 85 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 74 give VeriSign a green thumbs-up, and 11 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on VeriSign is outperform, with an average price target of $38.40.

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