Textron (NYSE: TXT) reported earnings on April 18. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Textron beat expectations on revenues and earnings per share.

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

Gross margins dropped, operating margins increased, and net margins improved.

Revenue details
Textron chalked up revenue of $2.86 billion. The eight analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected a top line of $2.71 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 15% higher than the prior-year quarter's $2.48 billion.

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 $0.41. The 12 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.35 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.40 for Q1 were 344% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.09 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 9.1%, 660 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 7.4%, 400 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 4.1%, 290 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $2.99 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.44.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $12.37 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.94.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 535 members out of 588 rating the stock outperform, and 53 members rating it underperform. Among 171 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 162 give Textron a green thumbs-up, and nine give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Textron is outperform, with an average price target of $29.15.