Cadence Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: CADX) reported earnings on March 7. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
 Cadence Pharmaceuticals booked revenue of $17.2 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected a top line of $16.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $5.9 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 -$0.15. The six earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted -$0.17 per share. Non-GAAP EPS were -$0.15 for Q4 versus -$0.28 per share for the prior-year quarter. GAAP EPS were -$0.25 for Q4 compared to -$0.37 per share for the prior-year quarter.

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 58.2%, much better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -73.4%, much better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -124.7%, much better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $19.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.11.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $100.5 million. The average EPS estimate is -$0.42.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 68 members out of 107 rating the stock outperform, and 39 members rating it underperform. Among 33 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 21 give Cadence Pharmaceuticals a green thumbs-up, and 12 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Cadence Pharmaceuticals is outperform, with an average price target of $5.46.