Badger Meter (NYSE: BMI) reported earnings on April 18. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Badger Meter beat expectations for both revenue and earnings per share.

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

Margins improved across the board.

Revenue details
Badger Meter booked revenue of $76.2 million. The six analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $69.5 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 33% higher than the prior-year quarter's $57.4 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 $0.42. The seven earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.26 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.42 for Q1 were 91% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.22 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 37.9%, 230 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 13.4%, 430 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 8.2%, 250 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $83.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.49.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $310.9 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.57.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 202 members rating the stock outperform and 17 members rating it underperform. Among 46 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 41 give Badger Meter a green thumbs-up, and five give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Badger Meter is hold, with an average price target of $32.29.

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