Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU) reported earnings on Jan. 29. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
 Peabody Energy recorded revenue of $2.02 billion. The 16 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw sales of $1.93 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 7.7% lower than the prior-year quarter's $2.19 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 -$1.12. The 24 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.26 per share. GAAP EPS were -$3.78 for Q4 against $0.81 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 23.4%, 1,120 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 9.9%, 1,370 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -49.9%, 6,010 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.87 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.02.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $8.08 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.89.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,996 members out of 2,085 rating the stock outperform, and 89 members rating it underperform. Among 390 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 373 give Peabody Energy a green thumbs-up, and 17 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Peabody Energy is outperform, with an average price target of $32.13.

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