National Healthcare (AMEX: NHC) reported earnings on May 3. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins increased, operating margins shrank, and net margins shrank.

Revenue details
National Healthcare logged revenue of $190.1 million. The one analyst polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see sales of $189.1 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 1.1% higher than the prior-year quarter's $188.1 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 $0.76. The one earnings estimate compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.78 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.76 for Q1 were 37% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.20 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 44.0%, 180 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 7.8%, 600 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 6.7%, 330 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $187.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.67.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $747.2 million. The average EPS estimate is $2.74.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 119 members out of 125 rating the stock outperform, and six members rating it underperform. Among 27 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 27 give National Healthcare a green thumbs-up.

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