PetroQuest Energy (NYSE: PQ) reported earnings yesterday. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
PetroQuest Energy booked revenue of $38.1 million. The eight analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw sales of $38.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 1.2% lower than the prior-year quarter's $38.6 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 10 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.04 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.04 for Q4 were 33% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.03 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 75.0%, 620 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 17.2%, 870 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 10.8%, 210 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $39.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.03.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $178.8 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.24.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 456 members rating the stock outperform and 17 members rating it underperform. Among 130 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 124 give PetroQuest Energy a green thumbs-up, and six give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on PetroQuest Energy is outperform, with an average price target of $10.72.

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