Abraxas Petroleum (Nasdaq: AXAS) reported earnings on March 15. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
 Abraxas Petroleum chalked up revenue of $19.1 million. The seven analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw a top line of $18.2 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 22% higher than the prior-year quarter's $15.6 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 -$0.03. The nine earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.00 per share. Non-GAAP EPS were -$0.03 for Q4 against -$0.12 per share for the prior-year quarter. GAAP EPS were -$0.13 for Q4 versus -$0.06 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 55.0%, much about the same as the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -133.2%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -62.2%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $19.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.01.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $93.5 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.10.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 724 members out of 756 rating the stock outperform, and 32 members rating it underperform. Among 101 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 94 give Abraxas Petroleum a green thumbs-up, and seven give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Abraxas Petroleum is outperform, with an average price target of $3.42.

Is Abraxas Petroleum the right energy stock for you? Read about a handful of timely, profit-producing plays on expensive crude in "3 Stocks for $100 Oil." Click here for instant access to this free report.