Patterson-UTI Energy (Nasdaq: PTEN) reported earnings on Feb. 7. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
 Patterson-UTI Energy tallied revenue of $652.8 million. The 18 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected sales of $599.5 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 9.9% lower than the prior-year quarter's $724.6 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 $0.40. The 26 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.28 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.40 for Q4 were 29% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.56 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 38.0%, 150 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 15.2%, 610 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 9.0%, 310 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $594.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.25.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.45 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.07.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 784 members out of 834 rating the stock outperform, and 50 members rating it underperform. Among 211 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 197 give Patterson-UTI Energy a green thumbs-up, and 14 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Patterson-UTI Energy is outperform, with an average price target of $19.48.

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