CNH Global (NYSE: CNH) reported earnings on Jan. 31. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
 CNH Global tallied revenue of $4.77 billion. The eight analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated net sales of $4.41 billion. Sales were 24% higher than the prior-year quarter's $3.76 billion.

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

EPS details
 Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.79. The 10 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.73 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.80 for Q4 were 7.9% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.87 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 21.6%, 140 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 7.3%, 120 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 3.8%, 140 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $4.18 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.72.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $18.97 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.21.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 290 members out of 319 rating the stock outperform, and 29 members rating it underperform. Among 95 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 92 give CNH Global a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on CNH Global is outperform, with an average price target of $47.80.