Hot Topic (Nasdaq: HOTT) reported earnings on March 13. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Feb. 2 (Q4), Hot Topic met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Gross margins dropped, operating margins dropped, net margins grew.

Revenue details
 Hot Topic logged revenue of $233.0 million. The six analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see a top line of $233.0 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 11% higher than the prior-year quarter's $209.9 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 $0.29. The six earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.27 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.29 for Q4 were 38% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.21 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 38.0%, 220 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 8.2%, 410 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.2%, 90 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $184.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.10.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $797.8 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.56.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 204 members out of 374 rating the stock outperform, and 170 members rating it underperform. Among 114 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 48 give Hot Topic a green thumbs-up, and 66 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Hot Topic is hold, with an average price target of $12.34.

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