Alon USA Energy (NYSE: ALJ) reported earnings on May 8. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Alon USA Energy beat expectations on revenues and crushed expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
 Alon USA Energy logged revenue of $1.65 billion. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $1.53 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 7.0% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.78 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 $0.80. The nine earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.55 per share. GAAP EPS were $0.80 for Q1 compared to -$0.52 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 12.0%, 630 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 7.6%, 820 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 3.3%, 500 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.72 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.57.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $6.52 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.85.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 365 members out of 388 rating the stock outperform, and 23 members rating it underperform. Among 91 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 86 give Alon USA Energy a green thumbs-up, and five give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Alon USA Energy is hold, with an average price target of $20.14.

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