United Online (Nasdaq: UNTD) reported earnings yesterday. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
United Online recorded revenue of $217.9 million. The two analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $219.8 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 6.3% lower than the prior-year quarter's $232.6 million.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.25. The two earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.20 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.14 for Q4 were 22% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.18 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 50.0%, 310 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 13.1%, 30 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.9%, 110 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $243.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.21.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $901.4 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.81.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 251 members out of 272 rating the stock outperform, and 21 members rating it underperform. Among 61 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 54 give United Online a green thumbs-up, and seven give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on United Online is outperform, with an average price target of $7.70.

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