Alliance Holdings GP (Nasdaq: AHGP) reported earnings on Jan. 27. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins contracted across the board.

Revenue details
Alliance Holdings GP reported revenue of $474.5 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted net sales of $480.9 million. Sales were 13% higher than the prior-year quarter's $418.5 million.

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

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.87. The two earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.80 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.95 for Q4 were 9.4% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.80 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 30.9%, 400 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 18.8%, 360 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 11.0%, 40 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $497.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.92.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.16 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.77.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 262 members out of 268 rating the stock outperform, and six members rating it underperform. Among 90 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 89 give Alliance Holdings GP a green thumbs-up, and one give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Alliance Holdings GP is outperform, with an average price target of $56.50.

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