CME Group (Nasdaq: CME) reported earnings on Feb. 5. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
 CME Group tallied revenue of $660.9 million. The 14 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated sales of $661.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 10% lower than the prior-year quarter's $736.5 million.

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 $0.63. The 17 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.64 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.50 for Q4 were 78% lower than the prior-year quarter's $2.25 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 97.1%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 56.8%, 380 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 25.2%, 7,610 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $720.2 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.75.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $3.01 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.25.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 769 members out of 819 rating the stock outperform, and 50 members rating it underperform. Among 233 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 222 give CME Group a green thumbs-up, and 11 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on CME Group is outperform, with an average price target of $57.26.

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