eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY) reported earnings on Jan. 18. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue grew significantly, and earnings per share improved significantly.

Gross margins contracted, operating margins dropped, net margins grew.

Revenue details
eBay logged revenue of $3.4 billion. The 29 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $3.3 billion. Sales were 35% higher than the prior-year quarter's $2.5 billion

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions.

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.60. The 30 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.57 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $1.51 for Q4 were 257% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.42 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Figures may be non-GAAP to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 69.4%, 240 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 22.3%, 140 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 58.6%, 3,620 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $3.2 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.54.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $13.7 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.31.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 3,511 members out of 4,078 rating the stock outperform, and 567 members rating it underperform. Among 1,090 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 996 give eBay a green thumbs-up, and 94 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on eBay is outperform, with an average price target of $38.06.