Ultimate Software Group (Nasdaq: ULTI) reported earnings on May 4. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Ultimate Software Group beat expectations on revenue and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Gross margin dropped, operating margin grew, and net margin grew.

Revenue details
Ultimate Software Group reported revenue of $78.3 million. The 14 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for revenue of $76.0 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 21% higher than the prior-year quarter's $64.5 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 $0.13. The 14 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.10 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.04 for Q1 were 300% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.01 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 54.4%, 100 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 2.7%, 110 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.3%, 80 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $78.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.17.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $331.4 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.01.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 82 members out of 117 rating the stock outperform, and 35 members rating it underperform. Among 37 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 24 give Ultimate Software Group a green thumbs-up, and 13 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Ultimate Software Group is hold, with an average price target of $70.11.

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