Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) reported earnings on Sep. 20. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Sep. 1 (Q2), Rite Aid met expectations on revenues and exceeded expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
Rite Aid reported revenue of $6.23 billion. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected a top line of $6.21 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 0.6% lower than the prior-year quarter's $6.27 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 -$0.05. The three earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast -$0.08 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.05 for Q2 versus -$0.11 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 27.5%, 120 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 1.5%, 80 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -0.6%, 90 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $6.20 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.01.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $25.29 billion.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 814 members out of 982 rating the stock outperform, and 168 members rating it underperform. Among 140 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 99 give Rite Aid a green thumbs-up, and 41 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Rite Aid is hold, with an average price target of $1.66.

If you're interested in retailers like Rite Aid as investments, you should check out the retail 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.