Core-Mark Holding (Nasdaq: CORE) reported earnings yesterday. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Core-Mark Holding missed estimates on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Gross margins contracted, operating margins grew, and net margins increased.

Revenue details
Core-Mark Holding booked revenue of $2.13 billion. The one analyst polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted net sales of $2.19 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 53% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.39 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 $0.65. The three earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.56 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.45 for Q4 were 463% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.08 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 5.2%, 160 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 0.4%, 20 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 0.2%, 10 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.26.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $9.15 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.41.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 104 members rating the stock outperform, and four members rating it underperform. Among 31 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 30 give Core-Mark Holding 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 Core-Mark Holding is buy, with an average price target of $48.67.

Over the decades, small-cap stocks like Core-Mark Holding 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.