Winn-Dixie Stores (Nasdaq: WINN) reported earnings on Feb. 21. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Jan. 11 (Q2), Winn-Dixie Stores met expectations on revenues and missed expectations on earnings per share.

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

Gross margins dropped, operating margins were steady, net margins grew.

Revenue details
 Winn-Dixie Stores booked revenue of $2.14 billion. The four analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected a top line of $2.17 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 2.3% higher than the prior-year quarter's $2.10 billion.

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 -$0.32. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged -$0.22 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.32 for Q2 versus -$0.43 per share for the prior-year quarter.

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 27.3%, 40 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -0.8%, about the same as the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -0.8%, 30 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.67 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.34.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $7.08 billion. The average EPS estimate is -$0.17.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 188 members out of 226 rating the stock outperform, and 38 members rating it underperform. Among 66 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 53 give Winn-Dixie Stores a green thumbs-up, and 13 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Winn-Dixie Stores is hold, with an average price target of $8.88.

If you're interested in retailers like Winn-Dixie Stores as investments, you should check out the retail concept that is The Motley Fool's top stock for 2012. Its founder wrote the book on big box retailing, and it's growing in increasingly important international markets. Click here for instant access to this free report.