Tesla Motors (Nasdaq: TSLA) reported earnings on Feb. 20. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue increased significantly. Non-GAAP loss per share shrank. GAAP loss per share increased.

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

Revenue details
Tesla Motors reported revenue of $306.3 million. The 13 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see revenue of $299.7 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $39.4 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 -$0.65. The 12 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted -$0.52 per share. Non-GAAP EPS were -$0.65 for Q4 compared to -$0.69 per share for the prior-year quarter. GAAP EPS were -$0.79 for Q4 against -$0.78 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 7.8%, 1,210 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -29.7%, 17,580 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -29.4%, 17,760 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $356.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.26.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.67 billion. The average EPS estimate is -$0.17.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 734 members out of 1,154 rating the stock outperform, and 420 members rating it underperform. Among 304 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 141 give Tesla Motors a green thumbs-up, and 163 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Tesla Motors is outperform, with an average price target of $36.71.

If you're looking for an edge in the transportation segment of the market, consider strong, smaller brands that sell their products to folks like you and me. We've got a couple to offer, plus a home-owner's trusted go-to company, in our new special report, "Middle-Class Millionaire-Makers: 3 Stocks Wall Street's Too Rich to Notice." Click here for instant access to this free report.