Patriot Coal (NYSE: PCX) reported earnings today. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins shrank across the board.

Revenue details
Patriot Coal logged revenue of $603.9 million. The eight analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted a top line of $643.4 million. Sales were 14% higher than the prior-year quarter's $528.2 million.

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

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at -$0.37. The 14 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted -$0.30 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS were -$0.42 for Q4 against $0.08 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 6.3%, 120 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -5.7%, 830 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -6.3%, 770 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $615.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.13.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.56 billion. The average EPS estimate is -$0.25.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 840 members rating the stock outperform, and 39 members rating it underperform. Among CAPS All-Stars (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 224 give Patriot Coal 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 Patriot Coal is hold, with an average price target of $15.23.

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