Odyssey Marine Exploration (Nasdaq: OMEX) reported earnings on March 12. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Odyssey Marine Exploration crushed expectations on revenues and missed expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins expanded across the board.

Revenue details
 Odyssey Marine Exploration recorded revenue of $7.9 million. The one analyst polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for revenue of $3.0 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $.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 -$0.01. The one earnings estimate compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.02 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.01 for Q4 against -$0.06 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 20.4%, much better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -14.7%, much better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -11.5%, much better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 151 members out of 200 rating the stock outperform, and 49 members rating it underperform. Among 48 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 27 give Odyssey Marine Exploration a green thumbs-up, and 21 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Odyssey Marine Exploration is buy, with an average price target of $6.00.

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