Vantage Drilling (AMEX: VTG) reported earnings on Feb. 15. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins grew, operating margins expanded, net margins contracted.

Revenue details
 Vantage Drilling reported revenue of $123.0 million. The six analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw revenue of $114.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 29% higher than the prior-year quarter's $95.2 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 -$0.04. The nine earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted -$0.02 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.45 for Q4 compared to -$0.04 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 52.2%, 2,800 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 30.6%, 230 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -108.7%, 9,890 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $156.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.03.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $674.0 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.19.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 183 members out of 195 rating the stock outperform, and 12 members rating it underperform. Among 49 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 44 give Vantage Drilling a green thumbs-up, and five give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Vantage Drilling is outperform, with an average price target of $2.20.

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