GeoEye (Nasdaq: GEOY) reported earnings on March 12. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins dropped, operating margins were steady, and net margins dropped.

Revenue details
GeoEye reported revenue of $96.8 million. The eight analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted net sales of $89.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 17% higher than the prior-year quarter's $82.5 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 $0.76. The seven earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.58 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.62 for Q4 were 14% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.72 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 67.2%, 120 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 30.1%, about the same as the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 17.4%, 450 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $90.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.55.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $363.9 million. The average EPS estimate is $2.23.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 472 members out of 487 rating the stock outperform, and 15 members rating it underperform. Among 142 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 139 give GeoEye 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 GeoEye is outperform, with an average price target of $36.36.

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