Balchem (Nasdaq: BCPC) reported earnings yesterday. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins dropped, operating margins contracted, and net margins were steady.

Revenue details
Balchem notched revenue of $76.2 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for revenue of $73.6 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 4.4% higher than the prior-year quarter's $73.0 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 $0.31. The three earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.32 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.31 for Q1 were 3.3% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.30 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 27.8%, 70 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 17.9%, 30 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 12.2%, about the same as the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $76.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.34.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $303.6 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.37.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 355 members rating the stock outperform and seven members rating it underperform. Among 90 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 90 give Balchem a green thumbs-up, and give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Balchem is outperform, with an average price target of $33.00.

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