Life Technologies (Nasdaq: LIFE) reported earnings on July 31. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended June 30 (Q2), Life Technologies met expectations on revenue and met expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
Life Technologies chalked up revenue of $949.3 million. The 19 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see sales of $943.6 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 0.9% higher than the prior-year quarter's $941.1 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 $0.96. The 23 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.97 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.67 for Q2 were 29% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.52 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 65.4%, 150 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 20.4%, 140 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 12.9%, 280 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $940.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.97.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $3.82 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.00.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 208 members out of 219 rating the stock outperform, and 11 members rating it underperform. Among 64 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 61 give Life Technologies 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 Life Technologies is outperform, with an average price target of $53.47.