Superior Energy Services Beats on Revenue, Matches Expectations on EPS

Superior Energy Services (NYSE: SPN  ) reported earnings on Feb. 26. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
Superior Energy Services logged revenue of $1.18 billion. The 11 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated a top line of $1.14 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $580.0 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 $0.49. The 17 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.49 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.49 for Q4 were 27% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.67 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.48 for Q4 were 100% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.24 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 38.7%, 760 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 12.4%, 440 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 6.5%, 320 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.12 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.44.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $4.73 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.20.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 843 members out of 854 rating the stock outperform, and 11 members rating it underperform. Among 181 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 178 give Superior Energy Services a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Superior Energy Services is outperform, with an average price target of $27.12.

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