Metalico (AMEX: MEA) reported earnings on March 14. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Metalico met expectations on revenues and missed expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
Metalico reported revenue of $131.7 million. The two analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for sales of $132.2 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 4.3% lower than the prior-year quarter's $137.6 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 -$0.07. The two earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted -$0.01 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS were -$0.06 for Q4 versus $0.02 per share for the prior-year quarter.

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 6.3%, 590 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -1.8%, 660 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -2.3%, 310 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $162.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.13.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $691.5 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.53.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,272 members out of 1,305 rating the stock outperform, and 33 members rating it underperform. Among 232 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 225 give Metalico a green thumbs-up, and seven give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Metalico is buy, with an average price target of $5.50.

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