Air Transport Services Group (Nasdaq: ATSG) reported earnings on March 5. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins increased across the board.

Revenue details
Air Transport Services Group logged revenue of $166.5 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected net sales of $180.8 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 6.8% lower than the prior-year quarter's $178.6 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 $0.22. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.22 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.20 for Q4 were 11% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.18 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 67.6%, 3,120 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 15.6%, 210 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 7.8%, 120 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $170.2 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.18.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $723.9 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.86.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 278 members out of 333 rating the stock outperform, and 55 members rating it underperform. Among 86 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 80 give Air Transport Services Group a green thumbs-up, and six give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Air Transport Services Group is buy, with an average price target of $8.40.

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