PAA Natural Gas Storage (NYSE: PNG) reported earnings on Feb. 6. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), PAA Natural Gas Storage crushed expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins expanded across the board.

Revenue details
 PAA Natural Gas Storage chalked up revenue of $112.7 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see revenue of $74.8 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 29% lower than the prior-year quarter's $158.8 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 $0.31. The eight earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.28 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.30 were the same as 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 34.9%, 1,160 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 22.0%, 720 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 19.9%, 600 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $78.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.22.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $300.5 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.93.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 68 members out of 69 rating the stock outperform, and one members rating it underperform. Among 27 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 27 give PAA Natural Gas Storage a green thumbs-up, and give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on PAA Natural Gas Storage is hold, with an average price target of $19.72.

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