Gentiva Health Services (Nasdaq: GTIV) reported earnings on May 3. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins shrank across the board.

Revenue details
Gentiva Health Services chalked up revenue of $435.7 million. The nine analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see net sales of $437.0 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 5.0% lower than the prior-year quarter's $458.8 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 $0.24. The seven earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.28 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.16 for Q1 were 64% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.44 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 46.5%, 220 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 6.7%, 470 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.1%, 180 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $437.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.27.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.75 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.14.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 296 members out of 311 rating the stock outperform, and 15 members rating it underperform. Among 94 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 90 give Gentiva Health Services a green thumbs-up, and four give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Gentiva Health Services is hold, with an average price target of $7.17.

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