Arkansas Best (Nasdaq: ABFS) reported earnings on April 30. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue expanded significantly. GAAP loss per share shrank.

Gross margins contracted, operating margins grew, net margins grew.

Revenue details
 Arkansas Best booked revenue of $520.7 million. The 13 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see a top line of $517.5 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 18% higher than the prior-year quarter's $440.9 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 -$0.52. The 16 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast -$0.39 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.52 for Q1 versus -$0.71 per share for the prior-year quarter.

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 -4.5%, 630 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -4.5%, 80 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -2.6%, 150 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $580.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.26.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.27 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.35.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 109 members out of 127 rating the stock outperform, and 18 members rating it underperform. Among 37 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 32 give Arkansas Best a green thumbs-up, and five give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Arkansas Best is hold, with an average price target of $11.60.

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