Lender Processing Services (NYSE: LPS) reported earnings on Feb. 13. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins improved, operating margins dropped, net margins contracted.

Revenue details
Lender Processing Services booked revenue of $532.1 million. The nine analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated a top line of $511.2 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 16% lower than the prior-year quarter's $638.8 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 $0.59. The nine earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.53 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS were -$0.25 for Q3 against $0.78 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 32.5%, 110 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 0.9%, 1,990 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -4.0%, 1,510 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $516.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.58.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.12 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.55.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 99 members out of 124 rating the stock outperform, and 25 members rating it underperform. Among 32 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 27 give Lender Processing Services 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 Lender Processing Services is hold, with an average price target of $20.00.

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