Kelly Services (Nasdaq: KELYA) reported earnings on May 9. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended April 1 (Q1), Kelly Services missed slightly on revenue and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins improved across the board.

Revenue details
Kelly Services booked revenue of $1.35 billion. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw a top line of $1.38 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 1.2% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.34 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 $0.24. The six earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.18 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.25 for Q1 were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.03 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 16.5%, 50 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 1.1%, 70 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 0.7%, 60 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.44 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.32.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $5.67 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.24.

Investor sentiment
Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Kelly Services is outperform, with an average price target of $21.

Over the decades, small-cap stocks like Kelly Services have provided market-beating returns, provided they're value-priced and have solid businesses. Read about a pair of companies with a lock on their markets in "Too Small to Fail: 2 Small Caps the Government Won't Let Go Broke." Click here for instant access to this free report.