NetScout Systems (Nasdaq: NTCT) reported earnings on April 25. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended March 31 (Q4), NetScout Systems met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Gross margins shrank, operating margins dropped, net margins grew.

Revenue details
 NetScout Systems booked revenue of $98.1 million. The 10 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see net sales of $98.4 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 9.6% higher than the prior-year quarter's $89.5 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 $0.43. The nine earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.41 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.43 for Q4 were 10% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.39 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.34 for Q4 were 13% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.30 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 78.5%, 30 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 22.3%, 80 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 14.8%, 30 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $80.1 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.17.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $392.5 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.46.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 120 members out of 132 rating the stock outperform, and 12 members rating it underperform. Among 27 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 24 give NetScout Systems 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 NetScout Systems is outperform, with an average price target of $27.80.

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