Canadian Natural Resources (TSX: CNQ) reported earnings on May 2. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Canadian Natural Resources beat expectations on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
 Canadian Natural Resources reported revenue of $3.69 billion. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for sales of $3.32 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were the same as the prior-year quarter's.

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 $0.36. The 16 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.42 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.36 for Q1 were 33% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.27 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.19 for Q1 were 51% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.39 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 47.0%, 320 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 10.8%, 900 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.7%, 640 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $3.09 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.33.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $15.18 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.89.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,478 members out of 1,509 rating the stock outperform, and 31 members rating it underperform. Among 304 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 300 give Canadian Natural Resources a green thumbs-up, and four give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Canadian Natural Resources is outperform, with an average price target of $38.76.

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