Frontier Communications (Nasdaq: FTR) reported earnings on Feb. 21. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins expanded, operating margins contracted, net margins shrank.

Revenue details
 Frontier Communications logged revenue of $1.23 billion. The 13 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected a top line of $1.24 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 $0.06. The 12 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.06 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.06 for Q4 were 14% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.07 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.03 for Q4 were 25% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.04 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 91.2%, 160 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 20.2%, 110 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.0%, 130 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.22 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.07.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $4.82 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.27.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 965 members out of 1,074 rating the stock outperform, and 109 members rating it underperform. Among 214 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 190 give Frontier Communications a green thumbs-up, and 24 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Frontier Communications is hold, with an average price target of $5.18.

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