Preformed Line Products (Nasdaq: PLPC) reported earnings on March 14. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Preformed Line Products whiffed on revenues and whiffed on earnings per share.

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

Margins contracted across the board.

Revenue details
 Preformed Line Products notched revenue of $104.2 million. The one analyst polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for a top line of $116.0 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 $0.98. The one earnings estimate compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $1.41 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.98 for Q4 were 41% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.67 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 31.6%, 70 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 8.8%, 260 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.1%, 330 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $114.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.55.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $469.4 million. The average EPS estimate is $6.29.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 285 members out of 290 rating the stock outperform, and five members rating it underperform. Among 79 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 78 give Preformed Line Products a green thumbs-up, and one give it a red thumbs-down.

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