PPL (NYSE: PPL) reported earnings on Feb. 10. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
PPL tallied revenue of $4.22 billion. The seven analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for net sales of $2.87 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.86 billion.

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

EPS details
EPS came in at $0.70. The 14 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.62 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.70 for Q4 were 4.1% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.73 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 28.7%, 1,850 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 20.4%, 1,410 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 9.5%, 960 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $3.01 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.65.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $11.45 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.38.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 371 members out of 381 rating the stock outperform, and 11 members rating it underperform. Among 90 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 90 give PPL a green thumbs-up, and none give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on PPL is outperform, with an average price target of $31.50.

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