California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT) reported earnings on July 31. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended June 30 (Q2), California Water Service Group beat expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins contracted across the board.

Revenue details
 California Water Service Group tallied revenue of $154.6 million. The two analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for a top line of $145.7 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 7.7% higher than the prior-year quarter's $143.6 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 $0.28. The five earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.27 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.28 for Q2 were 9.7% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.31 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 47.7%, 200 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 19.6%, 40 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 8.7%, 30 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $181.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.51.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $580.2 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.85.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 223 members out of 233 rating the stock outperform, and 10 members rating it underperform. Among 80 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 79 give California Water Service Group a green thumbs-up, and one give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on California Water Service Group is hold, with an average price target of $21.50.

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