Shaw Group (NYSE: SHAW) reported earnings on July 10. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended May 31 (Q3), Shaw Group beat expectations on revenue and missed expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue expanded and GAAP loss per share dropped.

Margins improved across the board.

Revenue details
Shaw Group booked revenue of $1.56 billion. The 13 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated a top line of $1.49 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 4.8% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.49 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 -$0.09. The nine earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.58 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.24 for Q3 compared to -$0.89 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 3.6%, 290 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -0.1%, 400 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -1.0%, 370 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.46 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.23.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $6.01 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.19.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 549 members out of 586 rating the stock outperform, and 37 members rating it underperform. Among 115 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 102 give Shaw Group a green thumbs-up, and 13 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Shaw Group is outperform, with an average price target of $34.57.

Over the decades, small-cap stocks like Shaw Group have provided market-beating returns, provided they're value-priced and have solid businesses. Read about a pair of companies with a lock on their markets in "Too Small to Fail: Two Small Caps the Government Won't Let Go Broke." Click here for instant access to this free report.