R.R. Donnelley & Sons (Nasdaq: RRD) reported earnings yesterday. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), R.R. Donnelley & Sons met expectations on revenues and met expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue improved slightly and GAAP earnings per share dropped to a loss.

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

Revenue details
R.R. Donnelley & Sons recorded revenue of $2.72 billion. The two analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw a top line of $2.71 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 0.5% higher than the prior-year quarter's $2.71 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 $0.46. The six earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.46 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS were -$1.78 for Q4 compared to $0.13 per share for the prior-year quarter.

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 22.9%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 7.0%, 80 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -12.0%, 1,300 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $2.60 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.38.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $10.62 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.79.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 138 members out of 164 rating the stock outperform, and 26 members rating it underperform. Among 51 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 46 give R.R. Donnelley & Sons a green thumbs-up, and five give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on R.R. Donnelley & Sons is outperform, with an average price target of $20.20.

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