Houston Wire & Cable (Nasdaq: HWCC) reported earnings on March 18. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Houston Wire & Cable beat expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Gross margins shrank, operating margins grew, net margins grew.

Revenue details
 Houston Wire & Cable reported revenue of $104.4 million. The four analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $92.2 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 19% higher than the prior-year quarter's $87.5 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 $0.25. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.21 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.25 for Q4 were 47% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.17 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 21.1%, 170 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 7.1%, 70 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 4.2%, 70 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $98.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.25.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $400.9 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.05.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 448 members out of 466 rating the stock outperform, and 18 members rating it underperform. Among 128 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 125 give Houston Wire & Cable 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 Houston Wire & Cable is outperform, with an average price target of $13.67.

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