US Ecology (Nasdaq: ECOL) reported earnings yesterday. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins improved across the board.

Revenue details
US Ecology logged revenue of $33 million. The one analyst polled by S&P Capital IQ expected a top line of $35.2 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 3.3% lower than the prior-year quarter's $34.1 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 $0.21. The three earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.18 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.25 for Q1 were 39% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.18 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 36.6%, 890 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 19.6%, 600 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 13.7%, 420 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $40.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.28.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $165.7 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.13.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 495 members rating the stock outperform and 13 members rating it underperform. Among 132 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 129 give US Ecology a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on US Ecology is outperform, with an average price target of $21.00.

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