VeriSign (Nasdaq: VRSN) reported earnings on Jan. 24. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
 VeriSign tallied revenue of $230.2 million. The 13 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see sales of $229.4 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 13% higher than the prior-year quarter's $203.6 million.

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

EPS details
 EPS came in at $0.59. The 14 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.51 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.65 for Q4 were 91% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.34 per share. (The prior-year quarter included $0.05 per share in earnings from discontinued operations.)

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 81.7%, 230 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 58.8%, 1,150 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 45.9%, 1,950 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $232.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.52.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $956.3 million. The average EPS estimate is $2.15.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 267 members out of 320 rating the stock outperform, and 53 members rating it underperform. Among 86 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 74 give VeriSign a green thumbs-up, and 12 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on VeriSign is hold, with an average price target of $39.64.

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