Layne Christensen (Nasdaq: LAYN) reported earnings on April 19. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Jan. 31 (Q4), Layne Christensen beat expectations on revenues and missed expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue improved slightly and GAAP earnings per share dropped to a loss.

Margins contracted across the board.

Revenue details
 Layne Christensen reported revenue of $275.8 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected a top line of $261.2 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 1.5% higher than the prior-year quarter's $271.8 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 -$0.20. The one earnings estimate compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.00 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS were -$4.55 for Q4 versus $0.44 per share for the prior-year quarter.

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 20.1%, 340 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -2.8%, 640 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -32.1%, 3,530 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $266.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.35.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.12 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.61.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 346 members out of 358 rating the stock outperform, and 12 members rating it underperform. Among 97 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 95 give Layne Christensen 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 Layne Christensen is hold, with an average price target of $29.33.

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