Arkansas Best (Nasdaq: ABFS) reported earnings on April 27. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Arkansas Best missed estimates on revenues and missed expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue expanded slightly and GAAP loss per share expanded.

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
Arkansas Best notched revenue of $440.9 million. The 10 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw sales of $450.7 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 1.4% higher than the prior-year quarter's $434.9 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 -$0.49. The 15 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast -$0.17 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.71 for Q1 versus -$0.51 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 -5.2%, 860 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -5.2%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -4.1%, 120 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $515.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.31.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.00 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.91.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 77 members out of 91 rating the stock outperform, and 14 members rating it underperform. Among 30 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 26 give Arkansas Best a green thumbs-up, and four give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Arkansas Best is outperform, with an average price target of $23.67.

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