51job (Nasdaq: JOBS) reported earnings on Feb. 23. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), 51job beat slightly on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
51job reported revenue of $58.7 million. The one analyst polled by S&P Capital IQ expected a top line of $57.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 29% higher than the prior-year quarter's $43.3 million.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
EPS came in at $0.61. The two earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.55 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.61 for Q4 were 79% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.34 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 71.2%, 580 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 31.8%, 460 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 32.3%, 890 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $58.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.63.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $253.9 million. The average EPS estimate is $2.60.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 388 members rating the stock outperform and 23 members rating it underperform. Among 141 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 131 give 51job a green thumbs-up, and 10 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on 51job is outperform, with an average price target of $64.93.

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