WellPoint (NYSE: WLP) reported earnings on Jan. 25. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), WellPoint missed slightly on revenues and whiffed on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue increased and earnings per share dropped significantly.

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
WellPoint logged revenue of $15.2 billion. The 12 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for sales of $15.4 billion. Sales were 4.6% higher than the prior-year quarter's $14.4 billion.

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

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.99. The 22 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $1.14 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.96 for Q4 were 31% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.39 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 18.8%, 370 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 3.9%, 200 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.2%, 150 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $15.4 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $2.32.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $62.7 billion. The average EPS estimate is $7.74.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 886 members out of 944 rating the stock outperform, and 58 members rating it underperform. Among 315 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 306 give WellPoint a green thumbs-up, and nine give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on WellPoint is outperform, with an average price target of $86.94.

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