Heartland Payment Systems (NYSE: HPY) reported earnings on Feb. 7. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
 Heartland Payment Systems reported revenue of $135.7 million. The 14 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $138.2 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 6.8% higher than the prior-year quarter's $471.4 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 $0.44. The 11 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.42 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.38 for Q4 were 41% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.27 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 14.6%, 120 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 5.2%, 90 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 3.0%, 60 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $141.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.47.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $595.8 million. The average EPS estimate is $2.12.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 392 members out of 411 rating the stock outperform, and 19 members rating it underperform. Among 168 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 164 give Heartland Payment Systems a green thumbs-up, and four give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Heartland Payment Systems is hold, with an average price target of $33.27.

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