Liz Claiborne (NYSE: LIZ) reported earnings on Feb. 29. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins grew, operating margins shrank, and net margins improved.

Revenue details
Liz Claiborne reported revenue of $447.1 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $477.5 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 33% lower than the prior-year quarter's $664.5 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 $0.10. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.10 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS were $1.91 for Q4 compared to -$0.32 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 53.8%, 320 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -6.6%, 690 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 51.3%, 5,580 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $314.1 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.03.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.57 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.10.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 225 members out of 318 rating the stock outperform, and 93 members rating it underperform. Among 114 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 82 give Liz Claiborne a green thumbs-up, and 32 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Liz Claiborne is hold, with an average price target of $8.

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