Salix Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: SLXP) reported earnings on Feb. 28. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
 Salix Pharmaceuticals booked revenue of $198.2 million. The 17 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated a top line of $199.8 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 28% higher than the prior-year quarter's $155.2 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 $0.81. The 16 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.78 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.81 for Q4 were 31% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.18 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.28 for Q4 were 49% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.55 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 84.5%, 220 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 24.6%, 860 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 8.9%, much worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $206.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.68.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $921.8 million. The average EPS estimate is $3.39.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 130 members out of 153 rating the stock outperform, and 23 members rating it underperform. Among 54 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 48 give Salix Pharmaceuticals a green thumbs-up, and six give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Salix Pharmaceuticals is outperform, with an average price target of $52.15.