Diana Shipping (NYSE: DSX) reported earnings on Feb. 28. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
Diana Shipping reported revenue of $57.7 million. The nine analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see a top line of $56.4 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 21% lower than the prior-year quarter's $73.0 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 $0.25. The 11 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.24 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.25 for Q4 were 38% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.40 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 70.9%, 420 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 35.6%, 980 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 35.1%, 920 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $55.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.21.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $219.4 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.74.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 2,464 members out of 2,527 rating the stock outperform, and 63 members rating it underperform. Among 518 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 504 give Diana Shipping a green thumbs-up, and 14 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Diana Shipping is outperform, with an average price target of $10.65.

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