Ecolab (NYSE: ECL) reported earnings on May 1. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins shrank across the board.

Revenue details
 Ecolab reported revenue of $2.81 billion. The 13 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $2.72 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 85% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.52 billion.

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 $0.50. The 17 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.48 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.17 for Q1 were 58% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.40 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 42.6%, 670 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 7.4%, 360 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.8%, 440 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $2.98 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.73.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $11.93 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.03.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 259 members out of 274 rating the stock outperform, and 15 members rating it underperform. Among 80 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 79 give Ecolab a green thumbs-up, and one give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Ecolab is outperform, with an average price target of $68.20.