Central Vermont Public Service (NYSE: CV) reported earnings on March 14. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Central Vermont Public Service missed estimates on revenue and missed estimates on earnings per share.

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

Gross margin expanded, operating margin contracted, and net margin contracted.

Revenue details
Central Vermont Public Service tallied revenue of $90.3 million. The one analyst polled by S&P Capital IQ expected sales of $98.0 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 5.5% higher than the prior-year quarter's $85.6 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 $0.40. The two earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.43 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.38 for Q4 were 2.6% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.39 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 -27.8%, 430 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 5.3%, 240 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.7%, 50 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $100.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.31.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $379.9 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.47.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 82 members out of 86 rating the stock outperform, and four members rating it underperform. Among 18 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), all 18 give Central Vermont Public Service a green thumbs-up.

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