World Wrestling Entertainment Beats Up on Analysts Yet Again

World Wrestling Entertainment (NYSE: WWE  ) reported earnings on Feb. 28. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue expanded slightly. Non-GAAP earnings per share didn't change. GAAP earnings per share grew.

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
World Wrestling Entertainment notched revenue of $115.1 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated revenue of $114.5 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 $0.02. The three earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.01 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.02 were the same as the prior-year quarter. GAAP EPS were $0.01 for Q4 compared to -$0.12 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 39.9%, 760 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 2.3%, 300 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 0.5%, 810 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $128.0 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.13.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $520.0 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.46.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 434 members out of 542 rating the stock outperform, and 108 members rating it underperform. Among 111 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 85 give World Wrestling Entertainment a green thumbs-up, and 26 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on World Wrestling Entertainment is hold, with an average price target of $12.33.

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