Heartland Payment Systems (NYSE: HPY) reported earnings on May 1. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins expanded across the board.

Revenue details
Heartland Payment Systems reported revenue of $128.7 million. The 12 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for revenue of $125.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 0.6% higher than the prior-year quarter's $467.6 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 $0.34. The 12 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.24 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.34 for Q1 were 70% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.20 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 12.9%, 250 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 4.9%, 180 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.9%, 120 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $138.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.39.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $537.4 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.37.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 371 members out of 393 rating the stock outperform, and 22 members rating it underperform. Among 161 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 158 give Heartland Payment Systems 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 Heartland Payment Systems is outperform, with an average price target of $28.56.

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