Ebix (Nasdaq: EBIX) reported earnings on March 14. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins expanded, operating margins contracted, net margins dropped.

Revenue details
 Ebix booked revenue of $54.0 million. The two analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for a top line of $54.3 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 23% higher than the prior-year quarter's $44.1 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 $0.48. The two earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.45 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.48 for Q4 were 9.1% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.44 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 80.7%, 40 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 37.5%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 34.7%, 460 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $54.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.45.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $223.3 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.86.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,540 members out of 1,581 rating the stock outperform, and 41 members rating it underperform. Among 342 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 336 give Ebix a green thumbs-up, and six give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Ebix is buy, with an average price target of $28.50.

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