Crosstex Energy (Nasdaq: XTEX) reported earnings on March 1. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue grew. GAAP loss per share grew.

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

Revenue details
 Crosstex Energy logged revenue of $526.0 million. The six analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted a top line of $445.1 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 9.4% higher than the prior-year quarter's $480.9 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 -$0.51. The eight earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast -$0.29 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.51 for Q4 against -$0.12 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 12.7%, much better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -1.0%, 520 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -4.7%, 440 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $449.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.24.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.99 billion. The average EPS estimate is -$0.64.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 210 members out of 259 rating the stock outperform, and 49 members rating it underperform. Among 91 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 84 give Crosstex Energy a green thumbs-up, and seven give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Crosstex Energy is outperform, with an average price target of $17.57.

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