Optimer Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: OPTR) reported earnings on May 10. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins increased, operating margins dropped, and et margins contracted.

Revenue details
Optimer Pharmaceuticals reported revenue of $14.4 million. The seven analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted a top line of $30.0 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 79% lower than the prior-year quarter's $69.3 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 -$0.23. The seven earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged -$0.40 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.23 for Q1 compared to $1.04 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 84.1%, 250 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -240.4%, 30,510 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -75.9%, 14,100 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $28.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.35.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $107.6 million. The average EPS estimate is -$1.14.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 111 members out of 147 rating the stock outperform, and 36 members rating it underperform. Among 49 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 35 give Optimer Pharmaceuticals a green thumbs-up, and 14 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Optimer Pharmaceuticals is buy, with an average price target of $19.78.

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