Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings (NYSE: LH) reported earnings on July 19. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended June 30 (Q2), Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings met expectations on revenues and met expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins contracted across the board.

Revenue details
Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings tallied revenue of $1.47 billion. The 20 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw sales of $1.46 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 $1.80. The 22 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $1.80 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $1.80 for Q2 were 1.7% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.77 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.62 for Q2 were 3.8% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.56 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 39.3%, 140 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 18.3%, 130 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 10.3%, 50 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.45 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.80.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $5.79 billion. The average EPS estimate is $7.08.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 656 members out of 677 rating the stock outperform, and 21 members rating it underperform. Among 215 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 211 give Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings 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 Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings is hold, with an average price target of $99.65.

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