Optimer Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: OPTR) reported earnings yesterday. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Optimer Pharmaceuticals met expectations on revenues and whiffed on earnings per share.

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

Margins increased across the board.

Revenue details
Optimer Pharmaceuticals recorded revenue of $64.6 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw a top line of $64.7 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $.2 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 $0.29. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.51 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS were $0.28 for Q4 versus -$0.31 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 93.5%, 763,060 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 19.7%, 1,120,660 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 20.7%, 766,130 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $19.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.42.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $122.3 million. The average EPS estimate is -$1.03.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 104 members out of 135 rating the stock outperform, and 31 members rating it underperform. Among 46 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 33 give Optimer Pharmaceuticals a green thumbs-up, and 13 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Optimer Pharmaceuticals is buy, with an average price target of $19.70.

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