Vitacost.com (Nasdaq: VITC) reported earnings on March 15. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue improved and GAAP loss per share dropped.

Gross margins dropped, operating margins increased, net margins increased.

Revenue details
Vitacost.com logged revenue of $67.4 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected sales of $69.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 14% higher than the prior-year quarter's $59.2 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 -$0.12. The two earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted -$0.08 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS were -$0.13 for Q4 compared to -$0.39 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 23.2%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -5.3%, 1,710 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -5.3%, 1,270 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $76.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.04.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $310.5 million. The average EPS estimate is -$0.25.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 28 members out of 34 rating the stock outperform, and six members rating it underperform. Among seven CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), five give Vitacost.com 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 Vitacost.com is hold, with an average price target of $6.50.

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