Niska Gas Storage Partners (NYSE: NKA) reported earnings on Jan. 31. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q3), Niska Gas Storage Partners crushed expectations on revenues and missed expectations on earnings per share.

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

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

Revenue details
 Niska Gas Storage Partners logged revenue of $73.8 million. The seven analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated revenue of $54.1 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 17% lower than the prior-year quarter's $89.3 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 six earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated -$0.03 per share. GAAP EPS were $0.15 for Q3 versus -$3.07 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 88.7%, 40 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 57.2%, 1,420 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 14.1%, 25,330 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $54.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.01.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $176.8 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.42.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 126 members out of 134 rating the stock outperform, and eight members rating it underperform. Among 44 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 42 give Niska Gas Storage Partners 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 Niska Gas Storage Partners is underperform, with an average price target of $10.92.

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