Ameristar Casinos (Nasdaq: ASCA) reported earnings on Feb. 7. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
 Ameristar Casinos notched revenue of $288.8 million. The 13 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for revenue of $291.7 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were the same as the prior-year quarter's.

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 $0.32. The 13 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.38 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.04 for Q4 were 82% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.22 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 47.2%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 14.6%, 40 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 0.4%, 210 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $308.0 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.66.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.20 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.18.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 188 members out of 239 rating the stock outperform, and 51 members rating it underperform. Among 86 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 75 give Ameristar Casinos a green thumbs-up, and 11 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Ameristar Casinos is hold, with an average price target of $20.95.

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