Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW) reported earnings on March 21. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins shrank across the board.

Revenue details
 Silver Wheaton reported revenue of $287.2 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $256.3 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 50% higher than the prior-year quarter's $191.9 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 $0.50. The 12 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.48 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.50 for Q4 were 22% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.41 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 85.0%, 230 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 65.2%, 990 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 61.9%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $274.0 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.48.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.08 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.03.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 2,630 members out of 2,741 rating the stock outperform, and 111 members rating it underperform. Among 491 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 468 give Silver Wheaton a green thumbs-up, and 23 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Silver Wheaton is outperform, with an average price target of $47.13.

Looking for alternatives to Silver Wheaton? It takes more than great companies to build a fortune for the future. Learn the basic financial habits of millionaires next door and get focused stock ideas in our free report, "3 Stocks That Will Help You Retire Rich." Click here for instant access to this free report.