AMN Healthcare Services (NYSE: AHS) reported earnings March 8. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), AMN Healthcare Services missed estimates on revenues and crushed expectations on earnings per share.

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

Gross margins grew, operating margins expanded, net margins contracted.

Revenue details
AMN Healthcare Services logged revenue of $222.1 million. The six analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw revenue of $228.7 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 0.8% higher than the prior-year quarter's $220.3 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 $0.04. The seven earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.03 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS were -$0.05 for Q4 against -$0.03 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 28.3%, 20 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 4.5%, 250 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -1.1%, 40 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $227.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.05.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $956.8 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.29.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 264 members out of 276 rating the stock outperform, and 12 members rating it underperform. Among 96 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 93 give AMN Healthcare Services a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on AMN Healthcare Services is outperform, with an average price target of $8.38.

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