Crosstex Energy Beats on Both Top and Bottom Lines

Crosstex Energy (Nasdaq: XTXI  ) reported earnings on March 1. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue grew. GAAP loss per share grew.

Margins shrank across the board.

Revenue details
Crosstex Energy recorded revenue of $526.0 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $449.4 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 9.4% higher than the prior-year quarter's $480.9 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 -$0.12. The two earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted -$0.27 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.12 for Q4 against -$0.04 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 12.7%, 170 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -3.0%, 700 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -1.1%, 70 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $466.1 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.18.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.99 billion. The average EPS estimate is -$0.31.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 308 members out of 347 rating the stock outperform, and 39 members rating it underperform. Among 112 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 101 give Crosstex Energy a green thumbs-up, and 11 give it a red thumbs-down.

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

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