Ruddick (NYSE: RDK) reported earnings on Feb. 2. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Jan. 1 (Q1), Ruddick beat slightly on revenue and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins shrank across the board.

Revenue details
Ruddick notched revenue of $1.12 billion. The two analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted sales of $1.11 billion. Sales were 1.3% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.11 billion.

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

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.53. The two earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.52 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.28 for Q1 were 64% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.78 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 29.2%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 4.1%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.2%, 220 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.12 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.62.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $4.57 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.42.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 76 members out of 94 rating the stock outperform, and 18 members rating it underperform. Among 32 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 28 give Ruddick a green thumbs-up, and four give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Ruddick is outperform, with an average price target of $51.00.

Over the decades, small-cap stocks like Ruddick have provided market-beating returns, provided they're value-priced and have solid businesses. Read about a pair of companies with a lock on their markets in "Too Small to Fail: Two Small Caps the Government Won't Let Go Broke." Click here for instant access to this free report.