Sociedad Quimica y Minera (NYSE: SQM) reported earnings on March 7. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Sociedad Quimica y Minera whiffed on revenue and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
Sociedad Quimica y Minera reported revenue of $538.9 million. The one analyst polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $602.1 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 6.6% higher than the prior-year quarter's $505.7 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 $0.60. The two earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.58 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.60 for Q4 were 50% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.40 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 50.6%, 1,670 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 35.4%, 950 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 29.5%, 860 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $620.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.56.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.52 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.61.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,438 members out of 1,467 rating the stock outperform, and 29 members rating it underperform. Among 306 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 299 give Sociedad Quimica y Minera a green thumbs-up, and seven give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Sociedad Quimica y Minera is hold, with an average price target of $61.37.

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