Staples (Nasdaq: SPLS) reported earnings on May 16. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended April 28 (Q1), Staples met expectations on both revenue and earnings per share.

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

Gross margin dropped, operating margin expanded, and net margin contracted.

Revenue details
Staples logged revenue of $6.1 billion. The 13 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected a top line of $6.19 billion on the same basis. GAAP-reported sales were 1.1% lower than the prior-year quarter's $6.17 billion.

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 $0.30. The 18 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.30 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.27 for Q1 were 3.6% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.28 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 26.4%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 5.7%, 10 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 3.1%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $5.75 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.23.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $25.32 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.49.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 932 members rating the stock outperform and 78 members rating it underperform. Among 303 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 283 give Staples a green thumbs-up, and 20 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Staples is outperform, with an average price target of $17.82.

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