CenterPoint Energy (NYSE: CNP) reported earnings yesterday. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), CenterPoint Energy whiffed on revenues and crushed expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins shrank across the board.

Revenue details
CenterPoint Energy chalked up revenue of $2.15 billion. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected sales of $2.51 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 2.2% higher than the prior-year quarter's $2.10 billion.

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 $0.26. The 15 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.19 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.28 for Q4 were 3.4% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.29 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 27.1%, 120 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 13.0%, 140 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.5%, 40 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $2.42 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.35.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $8.45 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.16.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 273 members rating the stock outperform and 22 members rating it underperform. Among 85 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 82 give CenterPoint Energy a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on CenterPoint Energy is outperform, with an average price target of $21.43.

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