NetScout Systems (Nasdaq: NTCT) reported earnings on July 18. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended June 30 (Q1), NetScout Systems beat expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue expanded. Non-GAAP earnings per share grew. GAAP earnings per share stayed the same.

Gross margins increased, operating margins increased, net margins shrank.

Revenue details
 NetScout Systems reported revenue of $81.8 million. The 12 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for sales of $79.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 7.1% higher than the prior-year quarter's $76.4 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 $0.21. The 11 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.17 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.21 for Q1 were 11% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.19 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.12 were the same as 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 79.3%, 140 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 10.9%, 30 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 6.4%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $87.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.28.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $390.3 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.44.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 122 members out of 133 rating the stock outperform, and 11 members rating it underperform. Among 33 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 31 give NetScout Systems a green thumbs-up, and two give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on NetScout Systems is outperform, with an average price target of $28.09.

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