ArthroCare (Nasdaq: ARTC) reported earnings on May 2. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins shrank, operating margins were steady, net margins dropped.

Revenue details
 ArthroCare booked revenue of $92.9 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $88.2 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 5.6% higher than the prior-year quarter's $87.9 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 $0.46. The five earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.34 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.43 for Q1 were 19% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.36 per share. (The prior-year quarter included $0.01 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 71.3%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 18.9%, about the same as the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 14.0%, 50 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $92.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.38.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $361.4 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.38.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 136 members out of 272 rating the stock outperform, and 136 members rating it underperform. Among 107 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 43 give ArthroCare a green thumbs-up, and 64 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on ArthroCare is outperform, with an average price target of $31.00.

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