Cheniere Energy (AMEX: LNG) reported earnings on Feb. 22. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue dropped. Non-GAAP loss per share dropped. GAAP loss per share shrank.

Margins contracted across the board.

Revenue details
 Cheniere Energy reported revenue of $67.4 million. The two analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw revenue of $71.5 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 7.1% lower than the prior-year quarter's $72.6 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 -$0.19. The one earnings estimate compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted -$0.15 per share. Non-GAAP EPS were -$0.19 for Q4 compared to -$0.66 per share for the prior-year quarter. GAAP EPS were -$0.44 for Q4 compared to -$0.66 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 52.6%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -23.6%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -139.9%, much worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $71.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.15.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $276.8 million. The average EPS estimate is -$0.98.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 606 members out of 702 rating the stock outperform, and 96 members rating it underperform. Among 120 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 98 give Cheniere Energy a green thumbs-up, and 22 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Cheniere Energy is buy, with an average price target of $21.75.

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