Community Health Systems (NYSE: CYH) reported earnings on Feb. 21. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Community Health Systems met expectations on revenues and met expectations on earnings per share.

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

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

Revenue details
 Community Health Systems logged revenue of $3.28 billion. The 19 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted a top line of $3.25 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were the same as the prior-year quarter's.

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 $0.85. The 23 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.85 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.85 for Q4 were 7.6% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.92 per share. (The prior-year quarter included -$0.03 per share in earnings from discontinued operations.) GAAP EPS of $0.69 for Q4 were 103% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.34 per share. (The prior-year quarter included -$0.03 per share in earnings from discontinued operations.)

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 37.2%, 730 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 7.0%, 90 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.9%, 100 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $3.40 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.96.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $13.59 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.84.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 140 members out of 151 rating the stock outperform, and 11 members rating it underperform. Among 67 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 66 give Community Health Systems a green thumbs-up, and one give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Community Health Systems is outperform, with an average price target of $33.38.

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