WellPoint (NYSE: WLP) reported earnings on Jan. 23. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins increased, operating margins contracted, net margins grew.

Revenue details
 WellPoint logged revenue of $15.27 billion. The 16 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for revenue of $15.30 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 1.4% higher than the prior-year quarter's $15.32 billion.

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 $1.03. The 20 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.94 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.51 for Q4 were 57% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.96 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 20.4%, 160 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 4.1%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 3.0%, 80 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $17.60 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $2.38.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $70.82 billion. The average EPS estimate is $7.93.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 952 members out of 1,008 rating the stock outperform, and 56 members rating it underperform. Among 342 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 334 give WellPoint a green thumbs-up, and eight give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on WellPoint is outperform, with an average price target of $69.88.

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