priceline.com (Nasdaq: PCLN) reported earnings yesterday. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins improved across the board.

Revenue details
priceline.com reported revenue of $990.8 million. The 19 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for revenue of $967.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 35% higher than the prior-year quarter's $731.3 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 $5.37. The 23 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $5.01 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $4.40 for Q4 were 65% higher than the prior-year quarter's $2.66 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 73.1%, 770 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 30.7%, 460 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 22.8%, 420 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.02 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $3.72.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $5.38 billion. The average EPS estimate is $29.68.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,009 members out of 1,368 rating the stock outperform, and 360 members rating it underperform. Among 424 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 326 give priceline.com a green thumbs-up, and 98 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on priceline.com is outperform, with an average price target of $620.04.

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