MeadWestvaco (NYSE: MWV) reported earnings on Jan. 30. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins contracted, operating margins contracted, net margins increased.

Revenue details
 MeadWestvaco booked revenue of $1.33 billion. The nine analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected a top line of $1.33 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 11% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.50 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 $0.07. The 12 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.19 per share. GAAP EPS were $0.10 for Q4 compared to -$0.15 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 17.5%, 180 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 3.7%, 50 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.3%, 300 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.36 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.34.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $5.75 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.76.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 88 members out of 106 rating the stock outperform, and 18 members rating it underperform. Among 47 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 42 give MeadWestvaco a green thumbs-up, and five give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on MeadWestvaco is outperform, with an average price target of $33.75.

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