Rowan Companies (NYSE: RDC) reported earnings on Feb. 28. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
 Rowan Companies notched revenue of $354.2 million. The 20 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $355.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 29% higher than the prior-year quarter's $275.1 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 $0.44. The 32 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.49 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.44 for Q4 were 26% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.35 per share. (The prior-year quarter included $0.10 per share in earnings from discontinued operations.)

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 45.3%, 440 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 19.8%, 710 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 15.3%, 110 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $384.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.65.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.55 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.35.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 570 members out of 601 rating the stock outperform, and 31 members rating it underperform. Among 161 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 153 give Rowan Companies 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 Rowan Companies is outperform, with an average price target of $38.56.

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