Inter Parfums (Nasdaq: IPAR) reported earnings on March 12. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Inter Parfums crushed expectations on revenue and met expectations on earnings per share.

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

Gross margin increased, operating margin shrank, and net margin shrank.

Revenue details
Inter Parfums chalked up revenue of $189.1 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated revenue of $153.8 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 68% higher than the prior-year quarter's $112.4 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 $0.15. The six earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.15 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.13 for Q4 were 35% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.20 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 61.7%, 270 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 5.2%, 580 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.2%, 330 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $154.0 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.36.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $632.7 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.18.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 166 members out of 172 rating the stock outperform, and six members rating it underperform. Among 48 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), all 48 give Inter Parfums a green thumbs-up.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Inter Parfums is outperform, with an average price target of $20.50.

Over the decades, small-cap stocks like Inter Parfums 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.