Stone Energy (NYSE: SGY) reported earnings on Feb. 22. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Stone Energy 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.

Margins expanded across the board.

Revenue details
Stone Energy recorded revenue of $221.8 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected a top line of $198.7 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 31% higher than the prior-year quarter's $170 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 $0.93. The eight earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.78 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.93 for Q4 were 121% 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 78.1%, 230 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 33.0%, 1,290 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 20.4%, 840 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $222.2 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.87.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $930.1 million. The average EPS estimate is $4.01.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 436 members rating the stock outperform and 24 members rating it underperform. Among 132 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 125 give Stone Energy a green thumbs-up, and seven give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Stone Energy is outperform, with an average price target of $37.

Over the decades, small-cap stocks, like Stone Energy have provided market-beating returns, provided they're value priced and have solid businesses. Read about a pair of companies with a lock on their markets in "Too Small to Fail: Two Small Caps the Government Won't Let Go Broke." Click here for instant access to this free report.