Heartland Payment Systems (NYSE: HPY) reported earnings on Feb. 9. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins improved across the board.

Revenue details
Heartland Payment Systems reported revenue of $125.1 million. The 12 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for sales of $121.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 1.4% lower than the prior-year quarter's $478.2 million.

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

EPS details
EPS came in at $0.28. The 14 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.24 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.28 for Q4 were 65% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.17 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 13.4%, 390 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 4.3%, 130 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.4%, 100 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $123.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.25.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $525.4 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.30.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 377 members out of 398 rating the stock outperform, and 21 members rating it underperform. Among 170 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 168 give Heartland Payment Systems 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 Heartland Payment Systems is outperform, with an average price target of $24.10.

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