Tesla Motors (Nasdaq: TSLA) reported earnings on May 8. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
Tesla Motors chalked up revenue of $561.8 million. The 11 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected a top line of $496.6 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $30.2 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 $0.12. The nine earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.04 per share. Non-GAAP EPS were $0.12 for Q1 versus -$0.76 per share for the prior-year quarter. GAAP EPS were $0.09 for Q1 compared to -$0.86 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 17.1%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -1.0%, much better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.0%, much better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $457.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.01.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.91 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.07.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 874 members out of 1,318 rating the stock outperform, and 444 members rating it underperform. Among 328 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 173 give Tesla Motors a green thumbs-up, and 155 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Tesla Motors is outperform, with an average price target of $40.68.

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