Hot Topic (Nasdaq: HOTT) reported earnings on Aug. 21. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended July 28 (Q2), Hot Topic met expectations on revenues and met expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins improved across the board.

Revenue details
 Hot Topic logged revenue of $157.9 million. The two analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw a top line of $157.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 4.6% higher than the prior-year quarter's $151.0 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 -$0.02. The six earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged -$0.02 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.02 for Q2 compared to -$0.14 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 34.1%, 190 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -0.8%, 310 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -0.5%, 360 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $184.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.10.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $739.6 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.43.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 207 members out of 386 rating the stock outperform, and 179 members rating it underperform. Among 118 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 42 give Hot Topic a green thumbs-up, and 76 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Hot Topic is outperform, with an average price target of $12.28.

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