Century Aluminum (Nasdaq: CENX) reported earnings on April 24. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
 Century Aluminum reported revenue of $326.2 million. The six analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted sales of $317.1 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 0.0% lower than the prior-year quarter's $326.3 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 -$0.04. The eight earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted -$0.22 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.04 for Q1 versus $0.25 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 6.5%, 650 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 2.8%, 870 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -1.2%, 890 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $340.2 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.06.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.39 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.02.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 448 members out of 504 rating the stock outperform, and 56 members rating it underperform. Among 139 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 128 give Century Aluminum a green thumbs-up, and 11 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Century Aluminum is hold, with an average price target of $12.00.

Worried about inflation? Interested in gold? Find out the best way to profit in both scenarios a little-known company we profile in, "The Tiny Gold Stock Digging Up Massive Profits." Click here for instant access to this free report.