AES (NYSE: AES) reported earnings on May 9. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
 AES booked revenue of $4.27 billion. The two analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see revenue of $4.34 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 10% lower than the prior-year quarter's $4.74 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 $0.26. The seven earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.30 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.26 for Q1 were 30% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.37 per share. (The prior-year quarter included -$0.01 per share in earnings from discontinued operations.) GAAP EPS of $0.11 for Q1 were 74% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.43 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 17.7%, 300 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 16.3%, 260 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.9%, 530 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $4.90 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.29.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $18.41 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.28.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 503 members out of 535 rating the stock outperform, and 32 members rating it underperform. Among 118 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 112 give AES 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 AES is buy, with an average price target of $13.39.

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