Urban Outfitters (Nasdaq: URBN) reported earnings on Aug. 20. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended July 31 (Q2), Urban Outfitters met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue improved and GAAP earnings per share increased significantly.

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
 Urban Outfitters logged revenue of $676.3 million. The 29 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated a top line of $671.4 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 11% higher than the prior-year quarter's $609.2 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 $0.42. The 31 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.33 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.42 for Q2 were 20% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.35 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 37.6%, 30 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 14.2%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 9.1%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $689.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.40.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.75 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.48.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 628 members out of 733 rating the stock outperform, and 105 members rating it underperform. Among 216 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 188 give Urban Outfitters a green thumbs-up, and 28 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Urban Outfitters is hold, with an average price target of $30.95.

If you're invested in retailers like Urban Outfitters, you should check out the concept that is The Motley Fool's top stock for 2012. Its founder wrote the book on big box retailing, and it's growing in increasingly important international markets. Click here for instant access to this free report.