UniFirst (NYSE: UNF) reported earnings on Jan. 5. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Nov. 26 (Q1), UniFirst beat expectations on revenues and crushed expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
UniFirst reported revenue of $313 million. The seven analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see a top line of $296 million. Sales were 15% higher than the prior-year quarter's $273 million.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions.

EPS details
EPS came in at $1.30. The seven earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $1.07 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.30 for Q1 were 8.3% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.20 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Figures may be non-GAAP to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 37.7%, 250 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 13.2%, 110 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 8.2%, 50 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods.

Looking ahead
What does the future hold?

Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $304 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.89.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.2 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.05.

Investor Sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 74 members out of 83 rating the stock outperform, and nine members rating it underperform. Among 27 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 25 give UniFirst a green thumbs-up, and two give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on UniFirst is outperform, with an average price target of $62.67.