Alpha Natural Resources (NYSE: ANR) reported earnings on Feb. 14. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Alpha Natural Resources met expectations on revenues and exceeded expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins increased across the board.

Revenue details
 Alpha Natural Resources tallied revenue of $1.56 billion. The 14 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for sales of $1.56 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 20% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.96 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 -$0.19. The 22 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted -$0.52 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.58 for Q4 against -$3.38 per share for the prior-year quarter.

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 30.2%, 1,870 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 11.8%, 970 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -8.2%, 2,960 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.35 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.62.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $5.53 billion. The average EPS estimate is -$2.30.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 867 members out of 929 rating the stock outperform, and 62 members rating it underperform. Among 181 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 162 give Alpha Natural Resources a green thumbs-up, and 19 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Alpha Natural Resources is hold, with an average price target of $10.38.

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