Trina Solar Beats on the Top Line

Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL  ) reported earnings on Feb. 26. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue dropped significantly. Non-GAAP loss per share increased. GAAP loss per share expanded.

Margins shrank across the board.

Revenue details
Trina Solar logged revenue of $302.7 million. The 11 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see revenue of $271.2 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 31% lower than the prior-year quarter's $435.7 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 -$1.44. The 11 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged -$0.80 per share. Non-GAAP EPS were -$1.44 for Q4 versus -$0.93 per share for the prior-year quarter. GAAP EPS were -$1.23 for Q4 against -$0.93 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 1.9%, 520 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -23.3%, 890 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -28.8%, much worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $291.1 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.67.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.51 billion. The average EPS estimate is -$1.61.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,035 members out of 1,250 rating the stock outperform, and 215 members rating it underperform. Among 209 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 128 give Trina Solar a green thumbs-up, and 81 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Trina Solar is hold, with an average price target of $4.33.

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