Superior Energy Services (NYSE: SPN) reported earnings on April 26. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins contracted, operating margins improved, net margins expanded.

Revenue details
Superior Energy Services booked revenue of $966.8 million. The six analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for a top line of $928.0 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $414.0 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 $0.71. The 11 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.59 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.42 for Q1 were 121% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.19 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 43.4%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 14.6%, 640 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.6%, 190 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.29 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.85.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $4.92 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.34.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 831 members out of 842 rating the stock outperform, and 11 members rating it underperform. Among 196 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 193 give Superior Energy Services a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Superior Energy Services is buy, with an average price target of $42.60.