Fisher Communications (Nasdaq: FSCI) reported earnings on Thursday. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Fisher Communications beat expectations on revenues and crushed expectations on earnings per share.

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

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

Revenue details
Fisher Communications reported revenue of $46.4 million. The one analyst polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for a top line of $41.6 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 19% lower than the prior-year quarter's $57.6 million.

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

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.72. The one earnings estimate compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.31 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $3.71 for Q4 were 299% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.93 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 61.9%, 530 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 21.5%, 560 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 71.4%, 5,700 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $37.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.25.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $179.9 million. The average EPS estimate is $2.42.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 21 members rating the stock outperform and eight members rating it underperform. Among eight CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), five give Fisher Communications a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

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