Ameresco (NYSE: AMRC) reported earnings on Feb. 29. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Ameresco beat slightly on revenue and whiffed on earnings per share.

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

Gross margin improved, operating margin dropped, and net margin increased.

Revenue details
Ameresco logged revenue of $188.5 million. The seven analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see a top line of $186.1 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 5.1% higher than the prior-year quarter's $179.3 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 $0.18. The seven earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.20 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.18 for Q4 were 5.9% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.17 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 18.6%, 120 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 6.4%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 4.4%, 10 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $141.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.09.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $807.0 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.93.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 402 members out of 406 rating the stock outperform, and four members rating it underperform. Among 101 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 100 give Ameresco a green thumbs-up, and one gives it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Ameresco is buy, with an average price target of $15.81.

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