Stericycle (Nasdaq: SRCL) reported earnings on Feb. 2. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
Stericycle chalked up revenue of $446.6 million. The nine analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see revenue of $443.5 million. Sales were 13% higher than the prior-year quarter's $393.5 million.

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

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.76. The 11 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.73 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.74 for Q4 were 30% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.57 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 45.1%, 390 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 26.2%, 100 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 14.4%, 170 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $456.0 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.76.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.87 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.21.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 277 members out of 300 rating the stock outperform, and 23 members rating it underperform. Among 97 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 90 give Stericycle a green thumbs-up, and seven give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Stericycle is outperform, with an average price target of $92.75.