Raven Industries (Nasdaq: RAVN) reported earnings on March 12. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Jan. 31 (Q4), Raven Industries missed estimates on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue dropped. GAAP earnings per share didn't move.

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
 Raven Industries recorded revenue of $89.6 million. The one analyst polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see a top line of $92.7 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 7.0% lower than the prior-year quarter's $96.3 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 $0.30. The one earnings estimate compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.25 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.30 were the same as 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 30.0%, 110 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 17.3%, 10 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 12.4%, 100 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $124.0 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.44.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $450.2 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.42.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 466 members out of 482 rating the stock outperform, and 16 members rating it underperform. Among 154 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 152 give Raven Industries a green thumbs-up, and two give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Raven Industries is outperform, with an average price target of $29.00.

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