Cooper Tire & Rubber (NYSE: CTB) reported earnings on Feb. 25. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
 Cooper Tire & Rubber booked revenue of $1.06 billion. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw revenue of $1.03 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 $1.15. The eight earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.86 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.15 for Q4 were 65% lower than the prior-year quarter's $3.32 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 18.1%, 720 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 11.7%, 600 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 6.9%, much worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $999.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.80.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $4.32 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.13.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 225 members out of 275 rating the stock outperform, and 50 members rating it underperform. Among 80 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 70 give Cooper Tire & Rubber 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 Cooper Tire & Rubber is outperform, with an average price target of $28.21.

Looking for alternatives to Cooper Tire & Rubber? It takes more than great companies to build a fortune for the future. Learn the basic financial habits of millionaires next door and get focused stock ideas in our free report, "3 Stocks That Will Help You Retire Rich." Click here for instant access to this free report.