Health Management Associates (NYSE: HMA) reported earnings Feb. 14. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins dropped, operating margins expanded, net margins shrank.

Revenue details
Health Management Associates reported revenue of $1.58 billion. The 16 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see revenue of $1.57 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 17% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.35 billion.

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 $0.26. The 22 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.21 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.13 for Q4 were 18% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.11 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 46.1%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 9.5%, 30 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.9%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.62 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.23.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $6.42 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.89.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 229 members out of 267 rating the stock outperform, and 38 members rating it underperform. Among 79 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 72 give Health Management Associates a green thumbs-up, and seven give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Health Management Associates is outperform, with an average price target of $11.00.

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