Roper Industries Hits Estimates in Solid Quarter

Roper Industries (NYSE: ROP  ) reported earnings on Jan. 28. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue grew and GAAP earnings per share grew significantly.

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
Roper Industries reported revenue of $815.9 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for sales of $819.2 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 9.6% higher than the prior-year quarter's $739.2 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 $1.48. The nine earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $1.46 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.44 for Q4 were 17% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.23 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 57.6%, 270 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 27.8%, 250 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 17.7%, 120 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $796.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.30.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $3.31 billion. The average EPS estimate is $5.69.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 121 members out of 130 rating the stock outperform, and nine members rating it underperform. Among 45 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 42 give Roper Industries a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Roper Industries is outperform, with an average price target of $113.50.

If you're interested in companies like Roper Industries, you might want to check out the jaw-dropping technology that's about to put 100 million Chinese factory workers out on the street � and the 3 companies that control it. We'll tell you all about them in "The Future is Made in America." Click here for instant access to this free report.

• Add Roper Industries to My Watchlist.