TransCanada (TSX: TRP) reported earnings on Feb. 14. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margin contracted, operating margin dropped, and net margin increased.

Revenue details
TransCanada logged revenue of $2.30 billion. The four analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected sales of $2.23 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 12% higher than the prior-year quarter's $2.07 billion.

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 $0.57. The 10 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.56 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.52 for Q3 were 37% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.38 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 49.1%, 80 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 32.5%, 70 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 16.5%, 270 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $2.26 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.53.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $9.03 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.21.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 385 members out of 397 rating the stock outperform, and 12 members rating it underperform. Among 110 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 107 give TransCanada 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 TransCanada is outperform, with an average price target of $43.39.

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