Westar Energy (NYSE: WR) reported earnings yesterday. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
Westar Energy booked revenue of $475.7 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw revenue of $479.8 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 1.3% lower than the prior-year quarter's $481.7 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 eight earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.27 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.21 for Q1 were 22% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.27 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 40.4%, 320 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 15.0%, 390 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.8%, 80 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $546.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.41.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.23 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.92.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 161 members rating the stock outperform and nine members rating it underperform. Among 55 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 53 give Westar Energy a green thumbs-up, and two give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Westar Energy is outperform, with an average price target of $30.00.

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