Alliant Energy (NYSE: LNT) reported earnings on Aug. 3. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins expanded across the board.

Revenue details
Alliant Energy logged revenue of $690.3 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for sales of $699.7 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 3.1% lower than the prior-year quarter's $712.5 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 $0.58. The seven earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.46 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.60 for Q2 were 30% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.46 per share. (The prior-year quarter included $0.01 per share in earnings from discontinued operations.)

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 31.0%, 550 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 15.8%, 520 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 9.5%, 230 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.01 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.31.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $3.23 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.89.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 79 members out of 92 rating the stock outperform, and 13 members rating it underperform. Among 28 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 24 give Alliant Energy a green thumbs-up, and four give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Alliant Energy is outperform, with an average price target of $46.88.

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