ViroPharma (Nasdaq: VPHM) reported earnings on Feb. 27. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins contracted across the board.

Revenue details
 ViroPharma reported revenue of $106.5 million. The 13 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for net sales of $102.8 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 27% lower than the prior-year quarter's $145.6 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 $0.10. The seven earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.12 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.10 for Q4 were 81% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.52 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.06 for Q4 against $0.65 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 74.8%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -1.9%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -3.7%, much worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $107.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.15.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $466.5 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.72.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,195 members out of 1,236 rating the stock outperform, and 41 members rating it underperform. Among 325 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 317 give ViroPharma a green thumbs-up, and eight give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on ViroPharma is outperform, with an average price target of $32.81.