Atlantic Power (NYSE: AT) reported earnings on May 7. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
 Atlantic Power reported revenue of $167.6 million. The one analyst polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw a top line of $169.3 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $53.7 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 -$0.37. The one earnings estimate compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted -$0.02 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.37 for Q1 versus $0.09 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 44.2%, 750 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 17.7%, 870 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -25.2%, 3,660 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.00.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $669.1 million. The average EPS estimate is -$0.03.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 81 members out of 84 rating the stock outperform, and three members rating it underperform. Among 15 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 14 give Atlantic Power a green thumbs-up, and one give it a red thumbs-down.

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