Cavium (Nasdaq: CAVM) reported earnings on May 1. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue contracted significantly and GAAP earnings per share dropped to a loss.

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
Cavium logged revenue of $52.7 million. The 21 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted a top line of $52.6 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 17% lower than the prior-year quarter's $63.6 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 $0.02. The 22 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.01 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.28 for Q1 versus $0.03 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 46.9%, 1,400 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -28.1%, 3,300 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -26.2%, 2,850 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $56.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.06.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $242.5 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.42.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 81 members out of 110 rating the stock outperform, and 29 members rating it underperform. Among 45 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 37 give Cavium a green thumbs-up, and eight give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Cavium is outperform, with an average price target of $33.23.

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