Laredo Petroleum Holdings (NYSE: LPI) reported earnings on March 12. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins contracted, operating margins grew, net margins grew.

Revenue details
 Laredo Petroleum Holdings logged revenue of $152.4 million. The nine analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for revenue of $157.7 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 9.7% higher than the prior-year quarter's $139.0 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 $0.11. The 11 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.10 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.11 for Q4 were 31% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.16 per share. GAAP EPS were $0.09 for Q4 compared to -$0.32 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 80.4%, 420 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 21.5%, 880 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 7.8%, much better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $172.2 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.11.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $736.3 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.54.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 14 members out of 14 rating the stock outperform, and members rating it underperform. Among six CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), six give Laredo Petroleum Holdings a green thumbs-up, and give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Laredo Petroleum Holdings is outperform, with an average price target of $26.11.

Is Laredo Petroleum Holdings the right energy stock for you? Read about a handful of timely, profit-producing plays on expensive crude in "3 Stocks for $100 Oil." Click here for instant access to this free report.