Noble Energy (NYSE: NBL) reported earnings on Feb. 9. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins increased, operating margins grew, and net margins shrank.

Revenue details
Noble Energy notched revenue of $985.0 million. The 10 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see revenue of $955.2 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 30% higher than the prior-year quarter's $868.0 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 $1.18. The 18 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $1.15 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS were -$1.59 for Q4 compared to $0.28 per share for the prior-year quarter.

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 85.1%, 120 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 37.3%, 1,880 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -3.0%, 4,420 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.06 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.48.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $4.54 billion. The average EPS estimate is $6.53.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 385 members out of 399 rating the stock outperform, and 14 members rating it underperform. Among 121 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 116 give Noble Energy a green thumbs-up, and five give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Noble Energy is outperform, with an average price target of $115.53.

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