TransAlta (NYSE: TAC) reported earnings on Feb. 27. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
 TransAlta recorded revenue of $663.2 million. The two analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see net sales of $648.8 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were the same as the prior-year quarter's.

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 $0.21. The 10 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.28 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.21 for Q4 were 62% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.13 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.15 for Q4 were 36% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.11 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 40.8%, 310 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 21.9%, 350 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 7.3%, 330 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $600.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.19.

Next year's The average EPS estimate is $0.77.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 87 members out of 92 rating the stock outperform, and five members rating it underperform. Among 25 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 23 give TransAlta a green thumbs-up, and two give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on TransAlta is hold, with an average price target of $19.62.

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