Houston Wire & Cable (Nasdaq: HWCC) reported earnings on May 9. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue was unchanged. GAAP earnings per share dropped.

Gross margins grew, operating margins dropped, net margins shrank.

Revenue details
 Houston Wire & Cable reported revenue of $94.3 million. The four analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw revenue of $98.4 million 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 $0.22. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.23 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.22 for Q1 were 4.3% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.23 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 22.7%, 30 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 6.8%, 40 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 4.1%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $103.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.28.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $405.6 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.03.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 447 members out of 465 rating the stock outperform, and 18 members rating it underperform. Among 116 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 113 give Houston Wire & Cable 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 Houston Wire & Cable is outperform, with an average price target of $14.83.

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