AK Steel Holding (NYSE: AKS) reported earnings on Jan. 29. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue shrank and GAAP loss per share expanded.

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

Revenue details
 AK Steel Holding recorded revenue of $1.42 billion. The 14 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see sales of $1.42 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 5.7% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.51 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 -$0.30. The 14 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated -$0.34 per share. GAAP EPS were -$1.90 for Q4 compared to -$1.76 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 4.9%, 320 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -12.4%, 1,010 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -16.2%, 340 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.47 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.06.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $6.04 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.14.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 860 members out of 954 rating the stock outperform, and 94 members rating it underperform. Among 202 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 175 give AK Steel Holding a green thumbs-up, and 27 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on AK Steel Holding is hold, with an average price target of $5.58.

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