Checkpoint Systems (NYSE: CKP) reported earnings on Feb. 23. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 25 (Q4), Checkpoint Systems beat slightly on revenues and missed expectations on earnings per share.

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

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

Revenue details
Checkpoint Systems reported revenue of $251.6 million. The two analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw a top line of $248.8 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 6.8% higher than the prior-year quarter's $235.5 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 -$0.10. The two earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted -$0.03 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS were -$0.47 for Q4 compared to $0.19 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 38.4%, 130 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 7.3%, 70 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -7.6%, 1,090 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $200.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.03.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $926.7 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.99.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 81 members out of 93 rating the stock outperform, and 12 members rating it underperform. Among 25 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 23 give Checkpoint Systems a green thumbs-up, and two give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Checkpoint Systems is buy, with an average price target of $21.00.

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