Trinity Industries (NYSE: TRN) reported earnings on Feb. 15. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
Trinity Industries reported revenue of $941.5 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted a top line of $854.4 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 49% higher than the prior-year quarter's $618.4 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 $0.44. The eight earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.42 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.70 for Q4 were 218% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.22 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 16.8%, 110 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 10.5%, 110 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 6.1%, 330 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $908.2 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.49.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $3.65 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.53.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,019 members rating the stock outperform and 31 members rating it underperform. Among 296 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 295 give Trinity Industries a green thumbs-up, and one gives it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Trinity Industries is outperform, with an average price target of $36.57.

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