Cimarex Energy Beats on Both Top and Bottom Lines

Cimarex Energy (NYSE: XEC  ) reported earnings on Feb. 19. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue expanded slightly. Non-GAAP earnings per share shrank. GAAP earnings per share dropped significantly.

Gross margins were steady, operating margins dropped, net margins dropped.

Revenue details
Cimarex Energy tallied revenue of $440.9 million. The 11 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted net sales of $424.0 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 $1.21. The 22 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $1.03 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $1.21 for Q4 were 14% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.40 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.14 for Q4 were 16% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.36 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 79.9%, about the same as the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 36.4%, 670 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 22.5%, 470 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $437.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.09.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.87 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.87.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 519 members out of 541 rating the stock outperform, and 22 members rating it underperform. Among 117 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 112 give Cimarex Energy a green thumbs-up, and five give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Cimarex Energy is outperform, with an average price target of $77.00.

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