Astec Industries (Nasdaq: ASTE) reported earnings on Feb. 21. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Astec Industries beat expectations on revenue and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Gross margin shrank, operating margin grew, and net margin dropped.

Revenue details
Astec Industries chalked up revenue of $263.2 million. The eight analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $224.7 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 38% higher than the prior-year quarter's $190.8 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 $0.41. The 10 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.40 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.35 for Q4 were 35% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.26 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 21.2%, 200 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 4.7%, 50 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 3.0%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $274.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.61.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.10 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.37.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 271 members out of 283 rating the stock outperform, and 12 members rating it underperform. Among 128 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 126 give Astec Industries a green thumbs-up, and two give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Astec Industries is outperform, with an average price target of $38.63.

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