El Paso Pipeline Partners (NYSE: EPB) reported earnings on April 17. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), El Paso Pipeline Partners missed estimates on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
 El Paso Pipeline Partners reported revenue of $386.0 million. The six analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see revenue of $401.4 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were the same as the prior-year quarter's.

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 $0.58. The 13 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.55 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.58 for Q1 were 7.4% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.54 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.81 for Q1 were 50% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.54 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 81.6%, 720 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 64.5%, 760 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 45.1%, much better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $392.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.45.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.63 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.04.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 290 members out of 296 rating the stock outperform, and six members rating it underperform. Among 81 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 80 give El Paso Pipeline Partners a green thumbs-up, and one give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on El Paso Pipeline Partners is hold, with an average price target of $42.23.

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