AutoNation (NYSE: AN) reported earnings on April 18. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), AutoNation beat slightly on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Gross margins dropped, operating margins were steady, net margins were steady.

Revenue details
 AutoNation booked revenue of $4.10 billion. The 11 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for sales of $4.03 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 12% higher than the prior-year quarter's $3.66 billion.

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 $0.68. The 14 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.64 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.68 for Q1 were 21% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.56 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.67 for Q1 were 20% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.56 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 16.2%, 30 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 4.1%, much about the same as the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.0%, much about the same as the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $4.31 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.73.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $17.07 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.88.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 167 members out of 230 rating the stock outperform, and 63 members rating it underperform. Among 70 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 55 give AutoNation a green thumbs-up, and 15 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on AutoNation is hold, with an average price target of $45.09.

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