Boeing (NYSE: BA) reported earnings today. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
Boeing tallied revenue of $19.6 billion. The 18 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for a top line of $19.4 billion. Sales were 18% higher than the prior-year quarter's $16.6 billion

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

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $1.32. The 22 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $1.01 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $1.84 for Q4 were 18% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.56 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 16.8%, 220 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 7.8%, 160 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 7.1%, 10 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $18.8 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.09.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $78.4 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.92.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 3,827 members out of 4,222 rating the stock outperform, and 396 members rating it underperform. Among 977 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 924 give Boeing a green thumbs-up, and 53 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Boeing is outperform, with an average price target of $81.96.

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