James River Coal (Nasdaq: JRCC) reported earnings yesterday. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), James River Coal beat expectations on revenues and missed expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue increased significantly, and GAAP earnings per share contracted to a loss.

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
James River Coal reported revenue of $357.2 million. The seven analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted sales of $323.0 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $162.1 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 -$0.75. The 10 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.03 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS were -$0.82 for Q4 compared to $0.93 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 16.4%, 570 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 2.4%, 400 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -8%, 2,400 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $288.0 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.49.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.10 billion. The average EPS estimate is -$1.49.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 504 members rating the stock outperform and 79 members rating it underperform. Among 117 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 96 give James River Coal a green thumbs-up, and 21 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on James River Coal is hold, with an average price target of $14.

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