Great Plains Energy (NYSE: GXP) reported earnings on Feb. 28. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Great Plains Energy met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
Great Plains Energy reported revenue of $480.4 million. The two analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected a top line of $477.0 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $486.3 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 $0.03. The eight earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.02 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.03 for Q4 were 200% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.01 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.28 for Q4 were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.01 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 41.6%, 750 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 21.3%, 890 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 7.3%, 690 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $520.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.05.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.44 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.58.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 161 members out of 178 rating the stock outperform, and 17 members rating it underperform. Among 63 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 60 give Great Plains Energy a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Great Plains Energy is outperform, with an average price target of $23.00.

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