LHC Group (Nasdaq: LHCG) reported earnings on March 6. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
 LHC Group reported revenue of $161.8 million. The eight analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for revenue of $160.9 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 $0.43. The eight earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.37 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.43 for Q4 were 10% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.39 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 42.9%, 40 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 9.4%, 90 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 4.6%, much about the same as the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $162.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.39.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $664.7 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.16.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 224 members out of 233 rating the stock outperform, and nine members rating it underperform. Among 58 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 55 give LHC Group a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on LHC Group is outperform, with an average price target of $19.07.

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