First Solar (Nasdaq: FSLR) reported earnings on May 3. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue dropped and GAAP earnings per share contracted to a loss.

Margins contracted across the board.

Revenue details
First Solar reported revenue of $497.1 million. The 30 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $689.4 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 12% lower than the prior-year quarter's $567.3 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 -$0.08. The 27 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.62 per share. GAAP EPS were -$5.20 for Q1 compared to $1.33 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 15.4%, 3,040 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -11.1%, 3,390 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -90.4%, 11,080 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $790.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.93.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $3.50 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.31.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 3,189 members out of 3,935 rating the stock outperform, and 746 members rating it underperform. Among 665 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 456 give First Solar a green thumbs-up, and 209 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on First Solar is hold, with an average price target of $37.21.

Is First Solar the best semiconductor stock for you? You may be missing something obvious. Check out the semiconductor company that Motley Fool analysts expect to lead "The Next Trillion-Dollar Revolution." Click here for instant access to this free report.