Acuity Brands (NYSE: AYI) reported earnings on April 3. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Feb. 28 (Q2), Acuity Brands beat expectations on revenues and beat slightly on earnings per share.

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

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

Revenue details
 Acuity Brands reported revenue of $486.7 million. The 14 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted net sales of $469.2 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 6.3% higher than the prior-year quarter's $457.7 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 $0.62. The 14 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.61 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.62 for Q2 were 8.8% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.57 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.57 for Q2 were 24% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.46 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 39.0%, 70 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 9.3%, 70 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.1%, 80 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $513.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.88.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.02 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.25.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 194 members out of 209 rating the stock outperform, and 15 members rating it underperform. Among 77 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 74 give Acuity Brands 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 Acuity Brands is hold, with an average price target of $66.25.

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