NTELOS Holdings (Nasdaq: NTLS) reported earnings on Feb. 28. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins dropped, operating margins dropped, net margins grew.

Revenue details
 NTELOS Holdings chalked up revenue of $117.4 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for a top line of $118.3 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 11% higher than the prior-year quarter's $106.0 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 $0.03. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.30 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.03 for Q4 were 88% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.26 per share. (The prior-year quarter included -$3.06 per share in earnings from discontinued operations.) GAAP EPS were $0.02 for Q4 compared to -$2.86 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 59.6%, 620 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 11.9%, 80 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 0.3%, much better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $119.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.35.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $491.4 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.39.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 121 members out of 129 rating the stock outperform, and eight members rating it underperform. Among 30 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 29 give NTELOS Holdings 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 NTELOS Holdings is outperform, with an average price target of $18.80.

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