Celanese (NYSE: CE) reported earnings on July 18. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended June 30 (Q2), Celanese met expectations on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

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

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

Revenue details
 Celanese reported revenue of $1.65 billion. The 14 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted a top line of $1.65 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 $1.12. The 19 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $1.16 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $1.12 for Q2 were 24% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.47 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.83 for Q2 were 37% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.31 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 19.3%, 50 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 10.3%, 30 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 8.0%, 450 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.66 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.19.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $6.52 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.53.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 348 members out of 377 rating the stock outperform, and 29 members rating it underperform. Among 86 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 82 give Celanese 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 Celanese is outperform, with an average price target of $54.03.

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