American Public Education (Nasdaq: APEI) reported earnings on May 9. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
 American Public Education booked revenue of $83.8 million. The 10 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $84.3 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 11% higher than the prior-year quarter's $75.8 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 $0.63. The 11 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.58 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.63 for Q1 were 26% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.50 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 66.1%, 280 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 21.7%, 210 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 13.6%, 160 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $82.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.59.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $344.9 million. The average EPS estimate is $2.62.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 249 members out of 261 rating the stock outperform, and 12 members rating it underperform. Among 87 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 84 give American Public Education a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on American Public Education is outperform, with an average price target of $41.22.

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