Ferrellgas Partners (NYSE: FGP) reported earnings on Oct. 1. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended July 31 (Q4), Ferrellgas Partners whiffed on revenues and missed expectations on earnings per share.

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

Gross margins increased, operating margins contracted, net margins dropped.

Revenue details
 Ferrellgas Partners reported revenue of $341.8 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $399.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 24% lower than the prior-year quarter's $449.7 million.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
 EPS came in at -$0.45. The seven earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated -$0.42 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.45 for Q4 against -$0.53 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 38.0%, 990 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -2.9%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -10.3%, 130 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $426.1 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.38.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.19 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.33.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 123 members out of 179 rating the stock outperform, and 56 members rating it underperform. Among 52 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 31 give Ferrellgas Partners a green thumbs-up, and 21 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Ferrellgas Partners is underperform, with an average price target of $13.08.

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