Foster Wheeler (Nasdaq: FWLT) reported earnings on March 1. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
 Foster Wheeler recorded revenue of $735.3 million. The 11 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $981.7 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 35% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.13 billion.

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 $0.27. The 13 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.46 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.27 for Q4 were 31% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.39 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.06 for Q4 were 82% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.34 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 19.7%, 620 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 7.0%, 250 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 0.9%, 260 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.00 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.44.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $4.26 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.03.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,631 members out of 1,681 rating the stock outperform, and 50 members rating it underperform. Among 369 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 360 give Foster Wheeler a green thumbs-up, and nine give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Foster Wheeler is outperform, with an average price target of $29.43.

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