VMware (NYSE: VMW) reported earnings on April 18. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), VMware beat expectations on revenues and earnings per share.

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

Margins increased across the board.

Revenue details
VMware chalked up revenue of $1.06 billion. The 37 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for sales of $1.03 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 25% higher than the prior-year quarter's $843.7 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 $0.66. The 36 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.60 per share on the same basis. GAAP EPS of $0.44 for Q1 were 52% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.29 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 83.8%, 160 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 20.6%, 240 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 18.1%, 320 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.11 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.64.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $4.56 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.60.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 2,114 members out of 2,304 rating the stock outperform, and 190 members rating it underperform. Among 581 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 538 give VMware a green thumbs-up, and 43 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on VMware is outperform, with an average price target of $108.79.

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