Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE: RBA) reported earnings on Feb. 28. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers missed estimates on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins increased across the board.

Revenue details
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers recorded revenue of $113.4 million. The 12 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for revenue of $117.7 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 28% higher than the prior-year quarter's $88.3 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 $0.25. The 16 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.24 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.25 for Q4 were 92% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.13 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 88.1%, 190 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 34.2%, 1,290 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 23.6%, 830 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $108.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.20.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $470.9 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.97.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 149 members out of 157 rating the stock outperform, and eight members rating it underperform. Among 54 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 51 give Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers is outperform, with an average price target of $22.58.