Six Flags Entertainment Beats on Both Top and Bottom Lines

Six Flags Entertainment (NYSE: SIX  ) reported earnings on Feb. 20. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins increased across the board.

Revenue details
Six Flags Entertainment tallied revenue of $143.9 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw revenue of $135.0 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were the same as the prior-year quarter's.

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 $2.59. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted -$0.50 per share. GAAP EPS were $2.59 for Q4 versus -$1.85 per share for 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 93.0%, 5,080 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -16.3%, 730 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 99.9%, 17,410 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $65.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$1.80.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.10 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.49.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 31 members out of 50 rating the stock outperform, and 19 members rating it underperform. Among 12 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), eight give Six Flags Entertainment a green thumbs-up, and four give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Six Flags Entertainment is outperform, with an average price target of $69.00.

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