Viacom (Nasdaq: VIAB) reported earnings on May 1. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended March 31 (Q2), Viacom missed slightly on revenues and met expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue dropped. Non-GAAP earnings per share dropped slightly. GAAP earnings per share contracted.

Gross margins expanded, operating margins contracted, net margins contracted.

Revenue details
 Viacom logged revenue of $3.14 billion. The 29 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated revenue of $3.18 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 5.9% lower than the prior-year quarter's $3.33 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 $0.96. The 31 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.95 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.96 for Q2 were 2.0% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.98 per share. (The prior-year quarter included -$0.01 per share in earnings from discontinued operations.) GAAP EPS of $0.95 for Q2 were 11% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.07 per share. (The prior-year quarter included -$0.01 per share in earnings from discontinued operations.)

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 50.9%, 30 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 27.0%, 100 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 15.2%, 240 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $3.58 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.33.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $13.84 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.68.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 136 members out of 148 rating the stock outperform, and 12 members rating it underperform. Among 63 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 59 give Viacom a green thumbs-up, and four give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Viacom is outperform, with an average price target of $64.34.

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