Parker Drilling (NYSE: PKD) reported earnings on Feb. 21. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue dropped. Non-GAAP earnings per share shrank to a loss. GAAP loss per share shrank.

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

Revenue details
 Parker Drilling chalked up revenue of $157.2 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see revenue of $159.7 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 13% lower than the prior-year quarter's $181.1 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 -$0.03. The six earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.06 per share. Non-GAAP EPS were -$0.03 for Q4 versus $0.17 per share for the prior-year quarter. GAAP EPS were -$0.17 for Q4 versus -$0.77 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 28.0%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -5.0%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -12.8%, much better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $167.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.06.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $721.0 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.37.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 642 members out of 668 rating the stock outperform, and 26 members rating it underperform. Among 105 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 101 give Parker Drilling a green thumbs-up, and four give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Parker Drilling is outperform, with an average price target of $6.25.

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