Canadian Natural Resources (TSX: CNQ) reported earnings on March 7. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Canadian Natural Resources beat expectations on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
 Canadian Natural Resources notched revenue of $3.71 billion. The four analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $3.51 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 11% lower than the prior-year quarter's $4.15 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 $0.33. The 15 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.39 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.33 for Q4 were 62% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.87 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.32 for Q4 were 57% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.75 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 51.1%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 16.6%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 9.5%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $3.27 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.52.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $15.63 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.27.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,487 members out of 1,517 rating the stock outperform, and 30 members rating it underperform. Among 339 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 336 give Canadian Natural Resources 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 Canadian Natural Resources is outperform, with an average price target of $39.66.

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