Arkansas Best (Nasdaq: ABFS) reported earnings on Jan. 27. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue grew and GAAP earnings per share increased.

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

Revenue details
Arkansas Best booked revenue of $463.2 million. The 11 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw revenue of $470.6 million. Sales were 5.0% higher than the prior-year quarter's $441.1 million.

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

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.08. The 17 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.23 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS were $0.05 for Q4 against -$0.12 per share for the prior-year quarter.

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 0.4%, 600 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 0.4%, 210 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 0.3%, 100 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $461.0 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.99 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.37.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 77 members out of 92 rating the stock outperform, and 15 members rating it underperform. Among 36 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 30 give Arkansas Best a green thumbs-up, and six give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Arkansas Best is outperform, with an average price target of $25.67.

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