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

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

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

Gross margins contracted, operating margins increased, net margins improved.

Revenue details
 FirstEnergy logged revenue of $4.10 billion. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see revenue of $4.34 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 18% higher than the prior-year quarter's $3.46 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 $0.82. The 12 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.80 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.73 for Q1 were 387% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.15 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 51.9%, 30 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 18.3%, 920 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 7.5%, 610 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $3.99 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.71.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $16.51 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.41.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 367 members out of 388 rating the stock outperform, and 21 members rating it underperform. Among 81 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 75 give FirstEnergy a green thumbs-up, and six give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on FirstEnergy is outperform, with an average price target of $47.10.

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