Linn Energy (Nasdaq: LINE) reported earnings on July 25. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended June 30 (Q2), Linn Energy crushed expectations on revenue and missed estimates on earnings per share.

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

Gross margins grew, operating margins shrank, and net margins dropped.

Revenue details
Linn Energy tallied revenue of $800.6 million. The eight analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected a top line of $515.1 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $305.1 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 $0.31. The 11 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.40 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.19 for Q2 were 11% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.34 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 88.5%, 940 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 60.8%, 4,240 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 29.6%, 4,810 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $564.1 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.21.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.24 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.11.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 981 members out of 1,006 rating the stock outperform, and 25 members rating it underperform. Among 260 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 255 give Linn Energy a green thumbs-up, and five give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Linn Energy is buy, with an average price target of $44.21.