Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) reported earnings on Feb. 16. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins shrank, operating margins improved, net margins dropped.

Revenue details
 Duke Energy logged revenue of $3.37 billion. The four analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated revenue of $3.29 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 0.4% lower than the prior-year quarter's $3.38 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 $0.24. The 14 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.21 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.22 for Q4 were 31% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.32 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 21.1%, 1,750 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 21.1%, 440 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 8.6%, 400 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $3.64 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.38.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $14.53 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.42.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,856 members out of 1,945 rating the stock outperform, and 89 members rating it underperform. Among 478 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 463 give Duke Energy a green thumbs-up, and 15 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Duke Energy is hold, with an average price target of $20.71.

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