Green Plains Renewable Energy (Nasdaq: GPRE) reported earnings on Feb. 6. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
 Green Plains Renewable Energy booked revenue of $883.7 million. The six analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated a top line of $806.5 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were the same as the prior-year quarter's.

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 $0.94. The five earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.10 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.94 for Q4 were 161% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.36 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 4.7%, 90 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 2.4%, 110 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 3.7%, 230 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $712.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.03.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $3.00 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.51.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 83 members out of 136 rating the stock outperform, and 53 members rating it underperform. Among 39 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 17 give Green Plains Renewable Energy a green thumbs-up, and 22 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Green Plains Renewable Energy is outperform, with an average price target of $9.00.

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