j2 Global (Nasdaq: JCOM) reported earnings on May 3. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), j2 Global met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Gross margins improved, operating margins grew, and net margins contracted.

Revenue details
j2 Global booked revenue of $86.7 million. The six analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see a top line of $86.1 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 18% higher than the prior-year quarter's $73.4 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 $0.64. The six earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.62 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.60 for Q1 were 9.1% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.66 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 81.7%, 320 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 43.4%, 1,200 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 32.9%, 930 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $87.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.63.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $354.4 million. The average EPS estimate is $2.55.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 430 members out of 452 rating the stock outperform, and 22 members rating it underperform. Among 146 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 139 give j2 Global a green thumbs-up, and seven give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on j2 Global is outperform, with an average price target of $32.50.

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