Ameren (NYSE: AEE) reported earnings on Feb. 23. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins shrank across the board.

Revenue details
Ameren logged revenue of $1.58 billion. The one analyst polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see revenue of $1.79 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 8.2% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.72 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 $0.14. The eight earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.15 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.10 for Q4 were 55% lower 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 28.5%, 290 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 9.3%, 250 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.6%, 140 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.73 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.24.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $7.55 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.33.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 186 members rating the stock outperform and 41 members rating it underperform. Among 66 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 58 give Ameren a green thumbs-up, and eight give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Ameren is hold, with an average price target of $29.

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