Chemed (NYSE: CHE) reported earnings on April 19. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Chemed met expectations on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

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

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

Revenue details
 Chemed logged revenue of $352.9 million. The four analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $349.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 6.7% higher than the prior-year quarter's $330.9 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 $1.17. The five earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $1.25 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $1.06 for Q1 were 26% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.84 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 27.1%, 110 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 9.9%, 70 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.8%, 30 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $351.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.27.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.43 billion. The average EPS estimate is $5.41.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 91 members out of 103 rating the stock outperform, and 12 members rating it underperform. Among 35 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 33 give Chemed 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 Chemed is outperform, with an average price target of $65.40.

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