FEI (Nasdaq: FEIC) reported earnings on Feb. 8. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), FEI beat slightly 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, net margins expanded.

Revenue details
FEI logged revenue of $213.0 million. The seven analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $210.5 million. GAAP sales were 14% higher than the prior-year quarter's $186.1 million.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.65. The five earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.64 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.72 for Q4 were 38% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.52 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 44.4%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 12.1%, 360 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 13.7%, 220 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $209.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.61.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $869.2 million. The average EPS estimate is $2.69.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 260 members out of 269 rating the stock outperform, and nine members rating it underperform. Among 92 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 91 give FEI a green thumbs-up, and one give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on FEI is outperform, with an average price target of $45.81.

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