CGG Veritas (NYSE: CGV) reported earnings on Mar. 1. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), CGG Veritas met expectations on revenue and whiffed on earnings per share.

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

Gross margin contracted, operating margin dropped, and net margin grew.

Revenue details
CGG Veritas booked revenue of $860.1 million. The seven analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted a top line of $855.1 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 4.6% lower than the prior-year quarter's $901.6 million.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
EPS came in at $0.10. The one earnings estimate compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.47 per share. GAAP EPS were $0.10 for Q4 against -$0.24 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 19.4%, 360 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 7.8%, 410 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.8%, 590 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $839.0 million.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $3.51 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.95.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 509 members out of 519 rating the stock outperform, and 10 members rating it underperform. Among 187 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 186 give CGG Veritas a green thumbs-up, and one gives it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on CGG Veritas is outperform, with an average price target of $22.94.

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