HB Fuller (NYSE: FUL) reported earnings on March 28. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 3 (Q1), HB Fuller beat expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Gross margins improved, operating margins increased, net margins contracted.

Revenue details
HB Fuller chalked up revenue of $375.3 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected a top line of $361.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 11% higher than the prior-year quarter's $339.5 million.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.44. The six earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.37 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.30 for Q1 were 3.4% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.29 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 30.4%, 190 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 8.2%, 190 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 4.1%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $526.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.55.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.00 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.12.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 98 members out of 107 rating the stock outperform, and nine members rating it underperform. Among 25 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 25 give HB Fuller a green thumbs-up.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on HB Fuller is outperform, with an average price target of $32.00.

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