Strayer Education (Nasdaq: STRA) reported earnings on Feb. 16. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins shrank across the board.

Revenue details
 Strayer Education booked revenue of $155.8 million. The 14 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated revenue of $154.8 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 9.4% lower than the prior-year quarter's $172.0 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 $2.30. The 13 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $2.26 per share. GAAP EPS of $2.30 for Q4 were 16% lower than the prior-year quarter's $2.73 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 53.5%, 1,330 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 29.1%, 520 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 17.1%, 380 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $150.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $2.09.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $576.9 million. The average EPS estimate is $6.69.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 260 members out of 322 rating the stock outperform, and 62 members rating it underperform. Among 103 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 87 give Strayer Education a green thumbs-up, and 16 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Strayer Education is hold, with an average price target of $107.08.

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