Sinclair Broadcast Group (Nasdaq: SBGI) reported earnings on Feb. 8. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
Sinclair Broadcast Group recorded revenue of $212.8 million. The four analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $211.3 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 5.7% lower than the prior-year quarter's $225.6 million.

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 $0.28. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.32 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.28 for Q4 were 35% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.43 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 61.0%, 980 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 29.8%, 840 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 10.7%, 400 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $220.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.33.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $950.1 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.48.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 122 members out of 131 rating the stock outperform, and nine members rating it underperform. Among 47 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 44 give Sinclair Broadcast Group a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Sinclair Broadcast Group is buy, with an average price target of $12.67.

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