Altera (Nasdaq: ALTR) reported earnings yesterday. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 30 (Q1), Altera missed estimates on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
Altera recorded revenue of $383.8 million. The 28 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected a top line of $422.6 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 28% lower than the prior-year quarter's $535.8 million.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
EPS came in at $0.35. The 29 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.36 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.35 for Q1 were 49% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.68 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 70.1%, 250 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 30.4%, 1,540 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 30.2%, 1,160 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $449.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.41.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.85 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.76.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 338 members rating the stock outperform, and 29 members rating it underperform. Among 112 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 106 give Altera a green thumbs-up, and six give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Altera is outperform, with an average price target of $41.45.

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