Belden (NYSE: BDC) reported earnings on Feb. 7. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Belden 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 grew significantly.

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

Revenue details
 Belden tallied revenue of $477.7 million. The six analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see revenue of $480.8 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 $0.78. The six earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.67 per share. GAAP EPS of $3.70 for Q4 were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.56 per share. (The prior-year quarter included -$0.01 per share in earnings from discontinued operations.)

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 31.5%, 200 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 6.9%, 140 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 34.9%, 2,920 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $498.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.76.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.09 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.53.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 160 members out of 167 rating the stock outperform, and seven members rating it underperform. Among 51 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 50 give Belden a green thumbs-up, and one give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Belden is outperform, with an average price target of $47.00.

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