Progressive Waste Solutions (NYSE: BIN) reported earnings on Feb. 14. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Progressive Waste Solutions beat expectations on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

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

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

Revenue details
 Progressive Waste Solutions tallied revenue of $498.7 million. The 12 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $475.4 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 8.4% higher than the prior-year quarter's $457.2 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 $0.24. The 13 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.26 per share. GAAP EPS were $0.10 for Q4 versus -$2.49 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 38.4%, 180 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 11.9%, 500 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.4%, 6,720 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $460.0 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.22.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.99 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.16.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 83 members out of 86 rating the stock outperform, and three members rating it underperform. Among 34 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 34 give Progressive Waste Solutions a green thumbs-up, and give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Progressive Waste Solutions is outperform, with an average price target of $23.21.

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