Exide Technologies (Nasdaq: XIDE) reported earnings on Feb. 9. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q3), Exide Technologies missed estimates on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

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

Revenue details
Exide Technologies logged revenue of $784.1 million. The eight analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted sales of $842.2 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 2.0% lower than the prior-year quarter's $800.3 million.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.86. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.25 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.84 for Q3 were 121% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.38 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 16.1%, 390 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 3.9%, 280 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 8.7%, 480 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $799.0 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.21.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $3.15 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.36.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 415 members out of 427 rating the stock outperform, and 12 members rating it underperform. Among 104 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 102 give Exide Technologies a green thumbs-up, and two give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Exide Technologies is outperform, with an average price target of $6.57.

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