Agrium (NYSE: AGU) reported earnings on Feb. 21. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins dropped, operating margins dropped, net margins expanded.

Revenue details
 Agrium reported revenue of $3.26 billion. The 17 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw revenue of $3.19 billion 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 $2.16. The 21 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $2.03 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $2.16 for Q4 were 7.7% lower than the prior-year quarter's $2.34 per share. (The prior-year quarter included -$0.85 per share in earnings from discontinued operations.) GAAP EPS of $2.34 for Q4 were 97% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.19 per share. (The prior-year quarter included -$0.85 per share in earnings from discontinued operations.)

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 31.5%, 140 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 16.3%, 70 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 10.9%, 500 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $3.80 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.32.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $17.55 billion. The average EPS estimate is $9.93.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,730 members out of 1,772 rating the stock outperform, and 42 members rating it underperform. Among 347 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 337 give Agrium a green thumbs-up, and 10 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Agrium is outperform, with an average price target of $109.74.

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