UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) reported earnings on April 19. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), UnitedHealth Group met expectations on revenue and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Gross margin grew, operating margin contracted, and net margin shrank.

Revenue details
UnitedHealth Group booked revenue of $27.28 billion. The 15 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected a top line of $27.09 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 7.3% higher than the prior-year quarter's $25.43 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 $1.31. The 18 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $1.18 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.31 for Q1 were 7.4% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.22 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 26.9%, 50 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 8.5%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.1%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $27.10 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.20.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $109.28 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.84.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS. Among 1,018 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 999 give UnitedHealth Group a green thumbs-up, and 19 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on UnitedHealth Group is outperform, with an average price target of $63.29.

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