Costco (Nasdaq: COST) reported earnings yesterday. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Feb. 12 (Q2), Costco met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Gross margins shrank, operating margins dropped, and net margins were steady.

Revenue details
Costco logged revenue of $22.97 billion. The 21 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw revenue of $22.76 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 10% higher than the prior-year quarter's $20.88 billion.

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 $0.90. The 26 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.87 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.90 for Q2 were 14% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.79 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 12.3%, 30 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 2.8%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.7%, about the same as the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $21.98 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.87.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $97.73 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.85.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 4,239 members rating the stock outperform and 152 members rating it underperform. Among 1,230 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 1,203 give Costco a green thumbs-up, and 27 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Costco is hold, with an average price target of $84.13.

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