Piedmont Natural Gas (NYSE: PNY) filed its 10-K on Dec. 21. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Oct. 31 (Q4), Piedmont Natural Gas missed estimates on revenues and exceeded expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins expanded across the board.

Revenue details
 Piedmont Natural Gas chalked up revenue of $181.4 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $197.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 5.5% lower than the prior-year quarter's $192.0 million.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
 EPS came in at -$0.03. The six earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged -$0.07 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.03 for Q4 against -$0.13 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 17.8%, 390 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -1.4%, 280 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -1.1%, 390 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $504.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.13.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.21 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.74.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 175 members out of 191 rating the stock outperform, and 16 members rating it underperform. Among 58 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 54 give Piedmont Natural Gas a green thumbs-up, and four give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Piedmont Natural Gas is hold, with an average price target of $30.83.

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