Shoe Carnival (Nasdaq: SCVL) reported earnings on Aug. 23. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended July 28 (Q2), Shoe Carnival met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Gross margins increased, operating margins were steady, net margins were steady.

Revenue details
Shoe Carnival reported revenue of $182.2 million. The six analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw a top line of $182.1 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 9.3% higher than the prior-year quarter's $166.7 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 $0.14. The five earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.11 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.14 for Q2 were 7.7% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.13 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 28.7%, 90 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 2.6%, about the same as the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.6%, about the same as the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $234.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.57.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $849.5 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.49.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 77 members out of 88 rating the stock outperform, and 11 members rating it underperform. Among 20 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 17 give Shoe Carnival 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 Shoe Carnival is buy, with an average price target of $24.40.

If you're invested in retailers like Shoe Carnival, you should check out the concept that is The Motley Fool's top stock for 2012. Its founder wrote the book on big box retailing, and it's growing in increasingly important international markets. Click here for instant access to this free report.