Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (NYSE: FCX) reported earnings on Jan. 22. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold beat slightly on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

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

Revenue details
 Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold reported revenue of $4.51 billion. The 11 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for revenue of $4.44 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 8.4% higher than the prior-year quarter's $4.16 billion.

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 $0.74. The 19 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.71 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.78 for Q4 were 15% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.68 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 39.3%, 320 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 28.8%, 240 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 16.5%, 110 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $5.49 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.06.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $22.38 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.58.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 5,790 members out of 5,983 rating the stock outperform, and 193 members rating it underperform. Among 1,236 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 1,196 give Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold a green thumbs-up, and 40 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold is outperform, with an average price target of $41.70.

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