Aetna (NYSE: AET) reported earnings on April 30. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins contracted across the board.

Revenue details
 Aetna tallied revenue of $9.51 billion. The 12 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted sales of $9.62 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 7.0% higher than the prior-year quarter's $8.92 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 $1.50. The 19 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $1.38 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $1.50 for Q1 were 12% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.34 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.48 for Q1 were 3.5% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.43 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 27.3%, 130 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 8.7%, 80 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.1%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $9.64 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.34.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $40.80 billion. The average EPS estimate is $5.54.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 594 members out of 644 rating the stock outperform, and 50 members rating it underperform. Among 219 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 208 give Aetna a green thumbs-up, and 11 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Aetna is outperform, with an average price target of $55.97.

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