Staples (Nasdaq: SPLS) reported earnings on March 6. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Feb. 2 (Q4), Staples missed estimates on revenues and beat slightly on earnings per share.

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

Gross margins dropped, operating margins increased, net margins dropped.

Revenue details
 Staples logged revenue of $6.57 billion. The 16 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for a top line of $6.70 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were the same as the prior-year quarter's.

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 $0.46. The 20 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.45 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.46 for Q4 were 12% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.41 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.12 for Q4 were 71% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.41 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 26.2%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 7.5%, 20 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.2%, 320 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $5.96 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.28.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $23.98 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.34.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 909 members out of 1,002 rating the stock outperform, and 93 members rating it underperform. Among 306 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 282 give Staples a green thumbs-up, and 24 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Staples is hold, with an average price target of $13.16.

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