Kroger (NYSE: KR) reported earnings on March 1. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Jan. 28 (Q4), Kroger met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins contracted across the board.

Revenue details
Kroger reported revenue of $21.41 billion. The 15 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see revenue of $21.46 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 7.4% higher than the prior-year quarter's $19.93 billion.

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 $0.50. The 18 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.49 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS were -$0.54 for Q4 against $0.44 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 20.8%, 350 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -2.0%, 500 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -1.4%, 280 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $29.21 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.74.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $96.96 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.31.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 605 members out of 670 rating the stock outperform, and 65 members rating it underperform. Among 179 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 168 give Kroger a green thumbs-up, and 11 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Kroger is outperform, with an average price target of $25.59.

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