Douglas Dynamics Goes Red

Douglas Dynamics (NYSE: PLOW  ) reported earnings on March 11. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins shrank across the board.

Revenue details
Douglas Dynamics reported revenue of $28.2 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated revenue of $28.1 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 53% lower than the prior-year quarter's $60.3 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 -$0.05. The five earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted -$0.05 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.05 for Q4 versus $0.28 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 26.7%, 640 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 6.1%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -3.7%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $14.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.12.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $168.8 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.60.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 51 members out of 54 rating the stock outperform, and three members rating it underperform. Among 17 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 17 give Douglas Dynamics a green thumbs-up, and give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Douglas Dynamics is outperform, with an average price target of $16.75.

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