Lifepoint Hospitals (Nasdaq: LPNT) reported earnings on July 26. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
Lifepoint Hospitals reported revenue of $1.08 billion. The 14 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $1.07 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 8.2% higher than the prior-year quarter's $827.3 million.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures are normalized by S&P Capital IQ and may vary to maintain comparability with normalized estimates.

EPS details
EPS came in at $0.65. The 22 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.71 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.65 for Q2 were 22% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.83 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.57 for Q2 were 31% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.83 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures are normalized by S&P Capital IQ and may vary to maintain comparability with normalized estimates.

Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 34.0%, 380 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 5.6%, 530 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 3.1%, 180 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.07 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.66.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $4.30 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.86.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 76 members out of 91 rating the stock outperform, and 15 members rating it underperform. Among 43 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 39 give Lifepoint Hospitals 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 Lifepoint Hospitals is hold, with an average price target of $50.06.

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