Broadcom (Nasdaq: BRCM) reported earnings on Jan. 31. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins improved, operating margins improved, and net margins shrank.

Revenue details
Broadcom logged revenue of $1.82 billion. The 35 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted sales of $1.80 billion. Sales were 3.8% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.95 billion.

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

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.68. The 32 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.65 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.45 for Q4 were 3.5% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.47 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 50.9%, 170 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 15.5%, 90 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 14.0%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.73 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.53.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $7.69 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.74.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 884 members out of 961 rating the stock outperform, and 77 members rating it underperform. Among 241 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 229 give Broadcom a green thumbs-up, and 12 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Broadcom is outperform, with an average price target of $39.98.

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