Pike Electric (NYSE: PIKE) reported earnings on May 6. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended March 31 (Q3), Pike Electric met expectations on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

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

Gross margins shrank, operating margins grew, net margins increased.

Revenue details
 Pike Electric booked revenue of $200.2 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see revenue of $202.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 23% higher than the prior-year quarter's $162.8 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 $0.08. The five earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.10 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.08 for Q3 were 33% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.06 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 12.5%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 3.2%, 50 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.3%, 10 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $217.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.14.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $938.6 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.16.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 94 members out of 104 rating the stock outperform, and 10 members rating it underperform. Among 26 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 24 give Pike Electric 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 Pike Electric is outperform, with an average price target of $16.00.

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