Safe Bulkers (NYSE: SB) reported earnings on Feb. 14. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins shrank across the board.

Revenue details
Safe Bulkers reported revenue of $42.5 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted net sales of $40.4 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 3.9% higher than the prior-year quarter's $41.3 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 $0.37. The seven earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.34 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.33 for Q3 were 30% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.47 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 81.0%, 390 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 60.2%, 620 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 54.9%, 2,050 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $43.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.36.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $168.7 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.50.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 229 members rating the stock outperform and 16 members rating it underperform. Among 86 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 80 give Safe Bulkers a green thumbs-up, and six give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Safe Bulkers is outperform, with an average price target of $8.58.

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