Limited Brands (NYSE: LTD) reported earnings yesterday. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Jan. 28 (Q4), Limited Brands met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

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

Revenue details
Limited Brands logged revenue of $3.52 billion. The 17 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $3.50 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 1.7% higher than the prior-year quarter's $3.46 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 $1.50. The 24 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $1.46 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $1.17 for Q4 were 14% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.36 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 43.5%, 1,330 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 21.7%, 90 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 10.2%, 290 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $2.11 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.43.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $10.36 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.89.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 554 members out of 655 rating the stock outperform, and 101 members rating it underperform. Among 212 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 192 give Limited Brands a green thumbs-up, and 20 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Limited Brands is outperform, with an average price target of $44.70.

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