Swift Transportation (NYSE: SWFT) reported earnings on Jan. 25. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
Swift Transportation logged revenue of $860.7 million. The 13 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for revenue of $866.0 million. Sales were 10% higher than the prior-year quarter's $780.4 million.

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

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.26. The 11 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.21 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS were $0.26 for Q4 against -$0.66 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 21.8%, 130 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 11.0%, 220 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 4.3%, 1,050 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $805.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.10.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $3.49 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.86.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 20 members out of 21 rating the stock outperform, and one members rating it underperform. Among seven CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), seven give Swift Transportation a green thumbs-up, and give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Swift Transportation is outperform, with an average price target of $12.12.

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