Heritage-Crystal Clean (Nasdaq: HCCI) reported earnings on Feb. 20. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Dec. 29 (Q4), Heritage-Crystal Clean met expectations on revenues and missed expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue grew significantly. GAAP loss per share didn't move.

Gross margins contracted, operating margins grew, net margins were steady.

Revenue details
 Heritage-Crystal Clean reported revenue of $77.6 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see revenue of $77.4 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 41% higher than the prior-year quarter's $54.9 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 -$0.01. The five earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.09 per share. GAAP EPS of -$0.01 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 14.2%, 100 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -0.2%, 30 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -0.3%, about the same as the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $60.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.11.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $276.6 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.77.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 58 members out of 64 rating the stock outperform, and six members rating it underperform. Among 18 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 17 give Heritage-Crystal Clean 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 Heritage-Crystal Clean is outperform, with an average price target of $20.00.

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