Tenneco (NYSE: TEN) reported earnings on Jan. 31. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
 Tenneco reported revenue of $1.75 billion. The 11 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see revenue of $1.79 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 1.7% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.78 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 $0.66. The 13 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.67 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.54 for Q4 were 13% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.48 per share.

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 15.9%, 30 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 4.8%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.9%, 20 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.89 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.76.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $8.02 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.75.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 124 members out of 198 rating the stock outperform, and 74 members rating it underperform. Among 72 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 48 give Tenneco a green thumbs-up, and 24 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Tenneco is outperform, with an average price target of $41.07.

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