Coleman Cable (Nasdaq: CCIX) reported earnings March 12. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Coleman Cable beat slightly on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

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

Gross margins contracted, operating margins shrank, net margins were steady.

Revenue details
Coleman Cable booked revenue of $206.9 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for sales of $204.1 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 11% higher than the prior-year quarter's $186.2 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 $0.07. The five earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.24 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.08 for Q4 were 14% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.07 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 12.5%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 4.6%, 50 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 0.7%, about the same as the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $215.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.32.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $926.5 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.58.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 91 members out of 98 rating the stock outperform, and seven members rating it underperform. Among 27 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 25 give Coleman Cable 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 Coleman Cable is outperform, with an average price target of $13.50.

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