Cloud Peak Energy Beats on EPS But GAAP Results Lag

Cloud Peak Energy (NYSE: CLD  ) reported earnings on Feb. 13. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Cloud Peak Energy missed estimates on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
Cloud Peak Energy reported revenue of $374.8 million. The nine analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted a top line of $406.3 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 6.9% lower than the prior-year quarter's $402.5 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 $0.54. The 13 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.49 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.46 for Q4 were 36% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.72 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 24.9%, 180 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 14.5%, 80 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 7.5%, 340 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $382.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.36.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.53 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.54.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 185 members out of 193 rating the stock outperform, and eight members rating it underperform. Among 47 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 45 give Cloud Peak Energy a green thumbs-up, and two give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Cloud Peak Energy is hold, with an average price target of $21.93.

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