Estee Lauder (NYSE: EL) reported earnings on May 4. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q3), Estee Lauder met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

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

Revenue details
Estee Lauder booked revenue of $2.25 billion. The 16 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted a top line of $2.25 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 3.8% higher than the prior-year quarter's $2.17 billion.

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 $0.38. The 18 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.33 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.33 for Q3 were 6.5% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.31 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 79.1%, 130 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 10.7%, 170 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.8%, about the same as the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $2.19 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.21.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $9.64 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.26.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 164 members out of 227 rating the stock outperform, and 63 members rating it underperform. Among 86 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 66 give Estee Lauder a green thumbs-up, and 20 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Estee Lauder is outperform, with an average price target of $62.22.