Chicago Bridge & Iron (NYSE: CBI) reported earnings on May 2. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins contracted across the board.

Revenue details
 Chicago Bridge & Iron booked revenue of $2.25 billion. The nine analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated net sales of $2.10 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 87% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.20 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 $0.82. The 11 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.74 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.82 for Q1 were 37% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.60 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.32 for Q1 were 47% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.60 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 10.9%, 190 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 6.4%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.5%, 350 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $2.89 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.06.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $11.04 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.24.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,355 members out of 1,384 rating the stock outperform, and 29 members rating it underperform. Among 336 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 330 give Chicago Bridge & Iron a green thumbs-up, and six give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Chicago Bridge & Iron is outperform, with an average price target of $62.42.

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