Xyratex (Nasdaq: XRTX) reported earnings on Jan. 10. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Nov. 30 (Q4), Xyratex beat expectations on revenues and exceeded expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
 Xyratex reported revenue of $265.4 million. The four analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected net sales of $255.2 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 32% lower than the prior-year quarter's $387.6 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 -$0.24. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated -$0.32 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.29 for Q4 versus $0.65 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 14.5%, 320 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -2.3%, 900 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -3.0%, 780 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $207.2 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.20.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $916.0 million. The average EPS estimate is -$0.16.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 260 members out of 279 rating the stock outperform, and 19 members rating it underperform. Among 74 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 68 give Xyratex a green thumbs-up, and six give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Xyratex is outperform, with an average price target of $8.67.

Is Xyratex the best tech stock for you? You may be missing something obvious. Check out the semiconductor company that Motley Fool analysts expect to lead "The Next Trillion-dollar Revolution." Click here for instant access to this free report.