MedAssets (Nasdaq: MDAS) reported earnings on Feb. 20. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue grew. Non-GAAP earnings per share dropped significantly. GAAP earnings per share contracted to a loss.

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
 MedAssets logged revenue of $163.8 million. The 15 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $159.8 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 $0.27. The 15 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.28 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.27 for Q4 were 16% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.32 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.25 for Q4 compared to $0.07 per share for 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 76.8%, 330 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 15.6%, 40 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -8.8%, 1,140 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $160.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.28.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $677.7 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.28.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 64 members out of 76 rating the stock outperform, and 12 members rating it underperform. Among 29 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 23 give MedAssets a green thumbs-up, and six give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on MedAssets is outperform, with an average price target of $20.00.

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