Kadant (NYSE: KAI) reported earnings on April 25. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins shrank, operating margins improved, and net margins increased.

Revenue details
Kadant chalked up revenue of $84.1 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted net sales of $82.8 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 17% higher than the prior-year quarter's $71.7 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 $0.61. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.42 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.60 for Q1 were 28% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.47 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 45.6%, 200 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 12.4%, 80 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 8.4%, 30 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $91.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.53.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $346.1 million. The average EPS estimate is $2.01.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 163 members out of 184 rating the stock outperform, and 21 members rating it underperform. Among 53 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 51 give Kadant 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 Kadant is outperform, with an average price target of $31.33.

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