Hexcel (NYSE: HXL) reported earnings on April 23. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins improved across the board.

Revenue details
Hexcel tallied revenue of $400.1 million. The 14 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see revenue of $372.6 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 21% higher than the prior-year quarter's $331.6 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 $0.39. The 13 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.33 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.39 for Q1 were 50% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.26 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 26.6%, 160 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 15.1%, 260 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 9.9%, 190 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $391.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.37.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.55 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.41.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 254 members out of 269 rating the stock outperform, and 15 members rating it underperform. Among 60 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 59 give Hexcel a green thumbs-up, and one gives it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Hexcel is outperform, with an average price target of $29.29.

Over the decades, small-cap stocks, like Hexcel have provided market-beating returns, provided they're value priced and have solid businesses. Read about a pair of companies with a lock on their markets in "Too Small to Fail: Two Small Caps the Government Won't Let Go Broke." Click here for instant access to this free report.