Cabot Oil & Gas (NYSE: COG) reported earnings on Feb. 21. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins expanded across the board.

Revenue details
 Cabot Oil & Gas logged revenue of $369.9 million. The 12 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted a top line of $349.5 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 38% higher than the prior-year quarter's $268.0 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 $0.27. The 21 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.21 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.27 for Q4 were 35% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.20 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.19 for Q4 were 46% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.13 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 76.5%, 100 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 33.0%, 630 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 11.0%, 120 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $362.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.23.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.68 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.23.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 481 members out of 528 rating the stock outperform, and 47 members rating it underperform. Among 105 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 97 give Cabot Oil & Gas a green thumbs-up, and eight give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Cabot Oil & Gas is outperform, with an average price target of $56.33.

Is Cabot Oil & Gas the right energy stock for you? Read about a handful of timely, profit-producing plays on expensive crude in "3 Stocks for $100 Oil." Click here for instant access to this free report.