Nexstar Broadcasting Group (Nasdaq: NXST) reported earnings on May 8. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins contracted, operating margins increased, net margins grew.

Revenue details
Nexstar Broadcasting Group reported revenue of $83.6 million. The one analyst polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $80.4 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 20% higher than the prior-year quarter's $69.9 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 $0.10. The one earnings estimate compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.01 per share. GAAP EPS were $0.10 for Q1 against -$0.22 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 69.4%, 330 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 20.9%, 780 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 3.6%, 1,260 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $90.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.21.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $364.8 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.88.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 24 members out of 36 rating the stock outperform, and 12 members rating it underperform. Among five CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), two give Nexstar Broadcasting Group a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Nexstar Broadcasting Group is buy, with an average price target of $12.00.

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