Beam (NYSE: BEAM) reported earnings on May 3. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins increased across the board.

Revenue details
Beam tallied revenue of $533.8 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $508.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 57% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.24 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 $0.53. The nine earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.47 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.49 for Q1 were 5.8% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.52 per share. (The prior-year quarter included $0.19 per share in earnings from discontinued operations.)

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 59.0%, 1,870 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 25.0%, 1,420 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 14.8%, 820 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $593.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.55.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.40 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.39.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 109 members out of 113 rating the stock outperform, and four members rating it underperform. Among 41 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 41 give Beam a green thumbs-up.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Beam is hold, with an average price target of $55.20.