Aircastle LTD (NYSE: AYR) reported earnings on Feb. 21. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins shrank across the board.

Revenue details
 Aircastle LTD reported revenue of $176.6 million. The seven analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted a top line of $167.1 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 9.2% higher than the prior-year quarter's $161.8 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 $0.52. The eight earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.41 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.52 for Q4 were 21% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.43 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.43 for Q4 were 12% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.49 per share.

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 98.5%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 52.2%, 30 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 16.9%, 510 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $175.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.31.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $759.2 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.70.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 514 members out of 550 rating the stock outperform, and 36 members rating it underperform. Among 180 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 170 give Aircastle LTD a green thumbs-up, and 10 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Aircastle LTD is outperform, with an average price target of $15.47.

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