Hi Tech Pharmacal (Nasdaq: HITK) reported earnings on Dec. 6. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Oct. 31 (Q2), Hi Tech Pharmacal beat expectations on revenues and crushed expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins contracted across the board.

Revenue details
 Hi Tech Pharmacal logged revenue of $57.5 million. The four analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected sales of $55.0 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 1.2% higher than the prior-year quarter's $56.9 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 $0.66. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.53 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.66 for Q2 were 37% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.04 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 51.4%, 730 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 22.2%, 1,130 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 15.5%, 870 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $60.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.72.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $235.5 million. The average EPS estimate is $2.66.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 206 members out of 224 rating the stock outperform, and 18 members rating it underperform. Among 43 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 38 give Hi Tech Pharmacal 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 Hi Tech Pharmacal is outperform, with an average price target of $36.83.