Optimer Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: OPTR) reported earnings on Feb. 28. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins shrank across the board.

Revenue details
 Optimer Pharmaceuticals logged revenue of $19.5 million. The nine analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $18.1 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 70% lower than the prior-year quarter's $64.6 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 $0.02. The 10 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated -$0.38 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.02 for Q4 were 93% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.28 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 23.7%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -155.4%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.1%, much worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $21.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.39.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $105.9 million. The average EPS estimate is -$1.73.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 108 members out of 145 rating the stock outperform, and 37 members rating it underperform. Among 48 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 34 give Optimer Pharmaceuticals a green thumbs-up, and 14 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Optimer Pharmaceuticals is outperform, with an average price target of $16.56.