Electro Scientific Industries (Nasdaq: ESIO) reported earnings on May 10. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q4), Electro Scientific Industries beat slightly on revenue and missed expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
Electro Scientific Industries chalked up revenue of $45.5 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for revenue of $44.8 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 36% lower than the prior-year quarter's $71.6 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 -$0.06. The three earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted -$0.04 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.26 for Q4 against $0.21 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 37.0%, 690 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -14.5%, 2,300 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -16.8%, 2,520 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $48.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.01.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $235.5 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.56.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 223 members out of 234 rating the stock outperform, and 11 members rating it underperform. Among 69 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 67 give Electro Scientific Industries 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 Electro Scientific Industries is outperform, with an average price target of $18.33.

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