Costco (Nasdaq: COST) reported earnings on March 12. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Feb. 17 (Q2), Costco met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue grew. Non-GAAP earnings per share grew significantly. GAAP earnings per share increased significantly.

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
 Costco booked revenue of $24.87 billion. The 22 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected a top line of $25.06 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 8.3% higher than the prior-year quarter's $22.97 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 $1.10. The 26 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $1.05 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $1.10 for Q2 were 22% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.90 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.24 for Q2 were 38% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.90 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 12.5%, 20 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 3.0%, 20 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.2%, 50 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $24.35 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.03.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $106.17 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.53.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 4,511 members out of 4,675 rating the stock outperform, and 164 members rating it underperform. Among 1,351 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 1,328 give Costco a green thumbs-up, and 23 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Costco is outperform, with an average price target of $105.10.

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