Molina Healthcare (NYSE: MOH) reported earnings on Feb. 23. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared with the prior-year quarter, revenue increased significantly and GAAP earnings per share dropped to a loss.

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

Revenue details
Molina Healthcare reported revenue of $1.31 billion. The nine analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected sales of $1.21 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 21% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.08 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 $0.51. The 12 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.39 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS were -$0.72 for Q4 against $0.39 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 20.5%, 30 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 3.7%, 50 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -2.5%, 410 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.35 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.39.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $5.90 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.79.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 132 members out of 144 rating the stock outperform, and 12 members rating it underperform. Among 50 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 47 give Molina Healthcare a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Molina Healthcare is hold, with an average price target of $24.32.

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