Becton, Dickinson (NYSE: BDX) reported earnings on May 2. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue was unchanged. GAAP earnings per share expanded.

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
 Becton, Dickinson notched revenue of $2.00 billion. The 17 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $1.99 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 6.8% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.87 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 $1.39. The 21 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $1.35 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.39 for Q2 were 0.7% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.38 per share. (The prior-year quarter included $0.14 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%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 19.1%, 30 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 13.8%, 170 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $2.05 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.49.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $7.99 billion. The average EPS estimate is $5.72.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,122 members out of 1,145 rating the stock outperform, and 23 members rating it underperform. Among 395 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 393 give Becton, Dickinson a green thumbs-up, and two give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Becton, Dickinson is hold, with an average price target of $88.53.

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