IPC The Hospitalist (Nasdaq: IPCM) reported earnings Feb. 21. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
IPC The Hospitalist reported revenue of $117.9 million. The 11 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $116.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 21% higher than the prior-year quarter's $97.2 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 $0.51. The 11 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.46 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.51 for Q4 were 21% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.42 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 26.9%, 230 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 10.1%, 180 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 7.3%, 10 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $127.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.50.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $516.7 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.99.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 73 members out of 77 rating the stock outperform, and four members rating it underperform. Among 17 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 17 give IPC The Hospitalist a green thumbs-up.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on IPC The Hospitalist is hold, with an average price target of $47.22.

If you're interested in health-care stocks like IPC The Hospitalist, you might want to expand your horizons to find maximum returns. Follow the money and meet a prime candidate for major returns in our new report, "Discover the Next Rule-Breaking Multibagger." Click here for instant access to this free report.