John Bean Technologies (NYSE: JBT) reported earnings on March 6. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), John Bean Technologies missed estimates on revenue and whiffed on earnings per share.

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

Margins contracted across the board.

Revenue details
John Bean Technologies chalked up revenue of $271.5 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for revenue of $287.0 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 5.3% lower than the prior-year quarter's $286.6 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 $0.25. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.53 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.24 for Q4 were 56% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.54 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 24.0%, 160 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 8.3%, 260 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.7%, 280 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $206.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.20.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.01 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.50.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 99 members out of 99 rating the stock outperform. Among 36 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), all of them give John Bean Technologies a green thumbs-up.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on John Bean Technologies is buy, with an average price target of $20.25.

Over the decades, small-cap stocks like John Bean Technologies have provided market-beating returns, provided they're value-priced and have solid businesses. Read about a pair of companies with a lock on their markets in "Too Small to Fail: Two Small Caps the Government Won't Let Go Broke." Click here for instant access to this free report.