Natural Gas Services Group (NYSE: NGS) reported earnings on March 14. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Natural Gas Services Group beat expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
 Natural Gas Services Group reported revenue of $23.5 million. The four analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted sales of $20.0 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 26% higher than the prior-year quarter's $18.6 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 five earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.23 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.29 for Q4 were 16% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.25 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 48.6%, 440 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 23.5%, 150 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 15.2%, 100 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $21.1 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.25.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $88.6 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.07.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 448 members out of 467 rating the stock outperform, and 19 members rating it underperform. Among 61 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 56 give Natural Gas Services Group a green thumbs-up, and five give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Natural Gas Services Group is buy, with an average price target of $19.20.

Is Natural Gas Services Group 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.