Chicago Bridge & Iron (NYSE: CBI) reported earnings on Feb. 23. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Chicago Bridge & Iron met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins contracted across the board.

Revenue details
 Chicago Bridge & Iron booked revenue of $1.26 billion. The 14 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected sales of $1.25 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 32% higher than the prior-year quarter's $947.9 million.

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 $0.70. The 16 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.68 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.70 for Q4 were 11% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.63 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 11.7%, 200 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 7.1%, 180 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.6%, 110 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.29 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.69.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $5.58 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.02.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,324 members out of 1,355 rating the stock outperform, and 31 members rating it underperform. Among 436 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 432 give Chicago Bridge & Iron a green thumbs-up, and four give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Chicago Bridge & Iron is outperform, with an average price target of $48.19.