CSX (NYSE: CSX) reported earnings on Jan. 22. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Dec. 28 (Q4), CSX beat slightly on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

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

Revenue details
 CSX logged revenue of $2.90 billion. The 20 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see sales of $2.85 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 2.3% lower than the prior-year quarter's $2.95 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 $0.43. The 28 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.39 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.43 were the same as 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 37.3%, 80 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 27.9%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 15.4%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $2.96 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.42.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $11.96 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.84.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 2,035 members out of 2,108 rating the stock outperform, and 73 members rating it underperform. Among 479 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 468 give CSX a green thumbs-up, and 11 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on CSX is outperform, with an average price target of $24.58.

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