Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR) reported earnings on Feb. 28. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins were steady, operating margins increased, net margins contracted.

Revenue details
 Nektar Therapeutics logged revenue of $21.1 million. The nine analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $19.1 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 34% higher than the prior-year quarter's $15.8 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 -$0.46. The six earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted -$0.46 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.46 for Q4 compared to -$0.33 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 65.5%, much about the same as the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -205.1%, much better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -250.3%, much worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $26.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.38.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $177.1 million. The average EPS estimate is -$0.91.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 199 members out of 230 rating the stock outperform, and 31 members rating it underperform. Among 58 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 45 give Nektar Therapeutics a green thumbs-up, and 13 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Nektar Therapeutics is outperform, with an average price target of $11.29.