Alpha Natural Resources (NYSE: ANR) reported earnings on Feb. 24. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Alpha Natural Resources missed estimates on revenues and missed expectations on earnings per share.

Compared with the prior-year quarter, revenue grew significantly and GAAP earnings per share dropped to a loss.

Gross margins dropped, operating margins grew, net margins dropped.

Revenue details
Alpha Natural Resources reported revenue of $2.07 billion. The 13 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected net sales of $2.17 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $993.1 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 -$0.07. The 18 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.27 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS were -$3.34 for Q4 compared to $0.10 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 16.2%, 590 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 0.8%, 70 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -35.4%, 3,670 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $2.06 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.32.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $8.27 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.42.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 821 members out of 859 rating the stock outperform, and 38 members rating it underperform. Among 217 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 207 give Alpha Natural Resources a green thumbs-up, and 10 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Alpha Natural Resources is outperform, with an average price target of $36.33.

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