Brooks Automation (Nasdaq: BRKS) reported earnings on Jan. 31. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q1), Brooks Automation beat expectations on revenues and exceeded expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue contracted significantly and GAAP earnings per share contracted to a loss.

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
 Brooks Automation logged revenue of $98.0 million. The six analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw revenue of $90.7 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 18% lower than the prior-year quarter's $120.2 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 -$0.06. The seven earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated -$0.11 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.14 for Q1 compared to $0.05 per share for the prior-year quarter.

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 29.7%, 390 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -8.5%, 1,010 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -9.4%, 1,190 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $107.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.05.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $465.3 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.09.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 188 members out of 207 rating the stock outperform, and 19 members rating it underperform. Among 66 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 62 give Brooks Automation a green thumbs-up, and four give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Brooks Automation is hold, with an average price target of $8.29.

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