Tenet Healthcare (NYSE: THC) reported earnings on Feb. 26. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins increased across the board.

Revenue details
 Tenet Healthcare notched revenue of $2.53 billion. The 15 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $2.48 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 $0.60. The 18 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.68 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.60 for Q4 were 29% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.84 per share. (The prior-year quarter included -$0.09 per share in earnings from discontinued operations.) GAAP EPS were $0.45 for Q4 versus -$0.71 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 83.4%, much better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 9.4%, 110 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.1%, 510 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $2.67 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.58.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $10.50 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.91.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 363 members out of 433 rating the stock outperform, and 70 members rating it underperform. Among 96 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 84 give Tenet Healthcare a green thumbs-up, and 12 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Tenet Healthcare is outperform, with an average price target of $29.50.

Is Tenet Healthcare the best health care stock for you? Learn how to maximize your investment income and "Secure Your Future With 9 Rock-Solid Dividend Stocks," including one above-average health care logistics company. Click here for instant access to this free report.