Sanchez Energy (NYSE: SN) reported earnings on May 7. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Sanchez Energy beat slightly on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue increased significantly. Non-GAAP earnings per share grew significantly. GAAP loss per share contracted.

Gross margins dropped, operating margins increased, net margins increased.

Revenue details
 Sanchez Energy logged revenue of $30.8 million. The 10 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw net sales of $30.3 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $7.6 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 $0.13. The 13 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.16 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.13 for Q1 were 225% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.04 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.06 for Q1 versus -$0.09 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 83.5%, 120 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 5.6%, much better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -0.2%, much better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $59.2 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.29.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $274.3 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.32.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 23 members out of 24 rating the stock outperform, and one members rating it underperform. Among six CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), six give Sanchez Energy a green thumbs-up, and give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Sanchez Energy is buy, with an average price target of $26.50.

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