AeroVironment (Nasdaq: AVAV) reported earnings on Mar. 6. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Jan. 28 (Q3), AeroVironment whiffed on revenues and earnings per share.

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

Margins shrank across the board.

Revenue details
AeroVironment reported revenue of $72.0 million. The 12 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected sales of $87.3 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 15% lower than the prior-year quarter's $84.4 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 $0.26. The eight earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.43 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.26 for Q3 were 50% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.52 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 38.1%, 230 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 10.2%, 840 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 8.0%, 560 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $99.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.62.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $328.1 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.30.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 587 members out of 605 rating the stock outperform, and 18 members rating it underperform. Among 137 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 135 give AeroVironment 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 AeroVironment is hold, with an average price target of $32.30.

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