Six Flags Entertainment (NYSE: SIX) reported earnings on July 24. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended June 30 (Q2), Six Flags Entertainment beat expectations on revenue and crushed expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins expanded across the board.

Revenue details
Six Flags Entertainment reported revenue of $374.9 million. The four analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected sales of $351.7 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 11% higher than the prior-year quarter's $338.7 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 $1.27. The three earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.62 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.34 for Q2 were 116% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.62 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 57.8%, 140 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 28.1%, 590 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 19.3%, 900 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $507.1 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $2.79.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.06 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.16.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 29 members out of 43 rating the stock outperform, and 14 members rating it underperform. Among 11 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), eight give Six Flags Entertainment a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Six Flags Entertainment is outperform, with an average price target of $56.94.

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