Iridium Communications (Nasdaq: IRDM) reported earnings yesterday. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
Iridium Communications logged revenue of $95 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for a top line of $93.2 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 8.0% higher than the prior-year quarter's $87.9 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 $0.11. The five earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.08 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.12 for Q4 were 14% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.14 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 66.4%, 220 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 16.6%, 50 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 8.8%, 270 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $97.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.15.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $412.7 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.66.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 195 members rating the stock outperform and six members rating it underperform. Among 57 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 55 give Iridium Communications a green thumbs-up, and two give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Iridium Communications is buy, with an average price target of $12.25.

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