Basic Energy Services (NYSE: BAS) reported earnings on April 18. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Basic Energy Services beat expectations on revenue and whiffed on earnings per share.

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

Gross margin contracted, operating margin grew, and net margin increased.

Revenue details
Basic Energy Services logged revenue of $370.9 million. The nine analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see revenue of $361.1 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 51% higher than the prior-year quarter's $246.1 million.

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

EPS details
Non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.50. The 12 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.56 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS were $0.47 for Q1 against -$0.46 per share for the prior-year quarter.

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 36.0%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 13.0%, 260 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.3%, 1,280 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $373.0 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.60.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.50 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.44.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 307 members out of 331 rating the stock outperform, and 24 members rating it underperform. Among 81 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 74 give Basic Energy Services a green thumbs-up, and seven give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Basic Energy Services is outperform, with an average price target of $26.77.

Is Basic Energy Services the right energy stock for you? Read about a handful of timely, profit-producing plays on expensive crude in our free report: "3 Stocks for $100 Oil." Click here for instant access to this free report.