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

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

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

Gross margins expanded, operating margins shrank, net margins were steady.

Revenue details
 CNH Global booked revenue of $4.93 billion. The seven analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for net sales of $4.66 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 2.9% higher than the prior-year quarter's $5.04 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 $0.92. The 10 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.69 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.78 for Q4 were 2.5% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.80 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 22.4%, 80 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 6.5%, 210 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 3.8%, about the same as the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $4.47 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.00.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $19.32 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.74.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 288 members out of 314 rating the stock outperform, and 26 members rating it underperform. Among 85 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 82 give CNH Global a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on CNH Global is hold, with an average price target of $48.11.

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