Powell Industries (Nasdaq: POWL) reported earnings on May 8. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended March 31 (Q2), Powell Industries beat expectations on revenue and crushed expectations on earnings per share.

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

Gross margins contracted, operating margins improved, and net margins expanded.

Revenue details
Powell Industries booked revenue of $181.5 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $155.6 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 45% higher than the prior-year quarter's $125.1 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 $0.63. The five earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.21 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.63 for Q2 were 320% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.15 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 18.9%, 100 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 6.6%, 490 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 4.1%, 270 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $163.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.43.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $656.0 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.04.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 107 members out of 118 rating the stock outperform, and 11 members rating it underperform. Among 33 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 30 give Powell Industries 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 Powell Industries is outperform, with an average price target of $41.50.

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