General Motors (NYSE: GM) reported earnings on Feb. 16. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
General Motors reported revenue of $38.00 billion. The 16 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $37.82 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 3.0% higher than the prior-year quarter's $36.88 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 $0.39. The 18 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.43 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.28 for Q4 were 60% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.70 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 11.6%, 150 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 3.0%, 210 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.9%, 190 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $37.18 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.74.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $154.95 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.59.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 718 members out of 900 rating the stock outperform, and 183 members rating it underperform. Among 202 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 161 give General Motors a green thumbs-up, and 41 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on General Motors is outperform, with an average price target of $33.21.