Southwest Gas (NYSE: SWX) reported earnings on May 9. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins improved across the board.

Revenue details
Southwest Gas chalked up revenue of $657.6 million. The one analyst polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see revenue of $583.8 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 4.6% higher than the prior-year quarter's $628.4 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 $1.70. The five earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $1.59 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.70 for Q1 were 15% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.48 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 30.3%, 90 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 20.5%, 40 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 12.0%, 110 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $296.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.10.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.83 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.72.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 97 members out of 105 rating the stock outperform, and eight members rating it underperform. Among 24 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 22 give Southwest Gas 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 Southwest Gas is outperform, with an average price target of $43.40.

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