Alliance Resource Partners (Nasdaq: ARLP) reported earnings on July 27. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended June 30 (Q2), Alliance Resource Partners beat expectations on revenue and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

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

Revenue details
Alliance Resource Partners logged revenue of $529.9 million. The six analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated a top line of $515.4 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 16% higher than the prior-year quarter's $457.9 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 $1.83. The seven earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $1.67 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.83 for Q2 were 10% lower than the prior-year quarter's $2.04 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 32.8%, 200 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 19.9%, 350 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 18.0%, 140 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $557.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.80.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.10 billion. The average EPS estimate is $6.87.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 710 members out of 732 rating the stock outperform, and 22 members rating it underperform. Among 181 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 175 give Alliance Resource Partners a green thumbs-up, and six give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Alliance Resource Partners is outperform, with an average price target of $78.86.

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