Brasil Foods (NYSE: BRFS) reported earnings on March 22. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
Brasil Foods chalked up revenue of $3.81 billion. The 13 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted a top line of $3.83 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 1.2% lower than the prior-year quarter's $3.85 billion.

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 $0.21. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.41 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.08 for Q4 were 68% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.25 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 27.4%, 130 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 8.6%, 190 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.7%, 390 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $3.67 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.37.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $15.27 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.57.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 233 members out of 247 rating the stock outperform, and 14 members rating it underperform. Among 64 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 61 give Brasil Foods 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 Brasil Foods is outperform, with an average price target of $22.37.