SM Energy (NYSE: SM) reported earnings on Feb. 21. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue grew significantly. Non-GAAP earnings per share dropped significantly. GAAP loss per share contracted.

Gross margins shrank, operating margins increased, net margins grew.

Revenue details
 SM Energy logged revenue of $444.3 million. The 14 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted net sales of $416.3 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 8.2% higher than the prior-year quarter's $410.7 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 $0.45. The 24 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.24 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.45 for Q4 were 25% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.60 per share. GAAP EPS were -$1.02 for Q4 versus -$1.89 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 73.1%, 260 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -21.9%, 1,610 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -15.1%, 1,430 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $431.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.28.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.89 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.76.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 280 members out of 297 rating the stock outperform, and 17 members rating it underperform. Among 64 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 59 give SM Energy 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 SM Energy is outperform, with an average price target of $69.60.

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