Health Management Associates (NYSE: HMA) reported earnings on Feb. 14. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Health Management Associates beat expectations on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

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

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

Revenue details
 Health Management Associates reported revenue of $1.72 billion. The 14 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $1.67 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 6.4% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.58 billion.

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 $0.12. The 23 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.21 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.18 for Q4 were 50% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.12 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 38.8%, 720 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 10.9%, 140 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 3.3%, 140 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.78 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.23.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $7.04 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.87.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 213 members out of 254 rating the stock outperform, and 41 members rating it underperform. Among 85 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 78 give Health Management Associates a green thumbs-up, and seven give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Health Management Associates is outperform, with an average price target of $9.10.

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