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

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

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

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
Southern booked revenue of $3.7 billion. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see revenue of $4.0 billion. Sales were 2.0% lower than the prior-year quarter's $3.8 billion.

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

EPS details
EPS came in at $0.30. The 17 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.30 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.30 for Q4 were 69% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.18 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 33.6%, 560 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 15.9%, 340 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 7.5%, 340 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $4.1 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.53.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $18.8 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.69.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,003 members out of 1,052 rating the stock outperform, and 49 members rating it underperform. Among 327 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 320 give Southern 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 Southern is hold, with an average price target of $43.59.

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