Alliance Resource Partners (Nasdaq: ARLP) reported earnings on Jan. 29. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Alliance Resource Partners beat slightly on revenues and crushed expectations on earnings per share.

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

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

Revenue details
 Alliance Resource Partners logged revenue of $549.4 million. The seven analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $541.8 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 16% higher than the prior-year quarter's $474.6 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 $1.87. The six earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $1.34 per share. GAAP EPS were $1.87 for Q4 against -$0.41 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 33.6%, 270 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 19.4%, 50 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 12.7%, 250 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $556.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.64.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.25 billion. The average EPS estimate is $6.87.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 709 members out of 730 rating the stock outperform, and 21 members rating it underperform. Among 198 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 192 give Alliance Resource Partners a green thumbs-up, and six give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Alliance Resource Partners is outperform, with an average price target of $75.71.

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