Align Technology (Nasdaq: ALGN) reported earnings on Jan. 30. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins dropped, operating margins increased, net margins increased.

Revenue details
Align Technology logged revenue of $128.9 million. The nine analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted sales of $127.8 million. Sales were 39% higher than the prior-year quarter's $92.9 million.

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

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.28. The 11 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.22 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.25 for Q4 were 106% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.12 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 74.1%, 320 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 20.5%, 320 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 15.9%, 520 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $129.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.22.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $550.4 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.04.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 169 members out of 217 rating the stock outperform, and 48 members rating it underperform. Among 82 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 69 give Align Technology a green thumbs-up, and 13 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Align Technology is outperform, with an average price target of $24.25.

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