MasTec (NYSE: MTZ) reported earnings on Feb. 29. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), MasTec beat expectations on revenue and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins shrank across the board.

Revenue details
MasTec reported revenue of $774.2 million. The 11 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $681.6 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 6.0% higher than the prior-year quarter's $730.7 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 $0.15. The 11 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.14 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.10 for Q4 were 77% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.44 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 11.0%, 630 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 3.1%, 720 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.1%, 420 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $654.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.17.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $3.21 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.42.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 189 members out of 204 rating the stock outperform, and 15 members rating it underperform. Among 45 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 41 give MasTec a green thumbs-up, and four give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on MasTec is outperform, with an average price target of $23.80.

Over the decades, small-cap stocks like MasTec 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.