United States Steel (NYSE: X) reported earnings on Jan. 31. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue increased, and GAAP loss per share improved.

Gross margins contracted, operating margins shrank, and net margins increased.

Revenue details
United States Steel logged revenue of $4.82 billion. The 12 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for revenue of $4.73 billion. Sales were 12% higher than the prior-year quarter's $4.30 billion.

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

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at -$1.14. The 18 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated -$0.84 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS were -$1.57 for Q4 compared to -$1.74 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 3.2%, 110 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -4.0%, 80 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -4.7%, 110 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $5.06 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.35.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $20.28 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.51.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,974 members out of 2,123 rating the stock outperform, and 149 members rating it underperform. Among 543 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 516 give United States Steel a green thumbs-up, and 27 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on United States Steel is hold, with an average price target of $33.13.

Worried about inflation? Interested in gold? Find out the best way to profit in both scenarios a little-known company we profile in "The Tiny Gold Stock Digging Up Massive Profits." Click here for instant access to this free report.