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

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), UIL Holdings missed estimates on revenues and whiffed on earnings per share.

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

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

Revenue details
 UIL Holdings booked revenue of $420.8 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see net sales of $442.7 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 13% higher than the prior-year quarter's $373.9 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 $0.56. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.63 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.56 for Q4 were 37% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.41 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 34.2%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 16.0%, 390 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 6.9%, 120 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $635.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.05.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.58 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.29.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 72 members out of 75 rating the stock outperform, and three members rating it underperform. Among 27 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 26 give UIL Holdings 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 UIL Holdings is outperform, with an average price target of $36.86.

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