Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) reported earnings on April 18. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Verizon Communications met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
 Verizon Communications reported revenue of $29.42 billion. The 22 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $29.54 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were the same as the prior-year quarter's.

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 $0.68. The 27 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.66 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.68 for Q1 were 15% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.59 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 62.8%, 290 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 21.1%, 270 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 6.6%, 60 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $29.83 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.73.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $120.46 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.79.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 4,625 members out of 4,915 rating the stock outperform, and 290 members rating it underperform. Among 1,155 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 1,111 give Verizon Communications a green thumbs-up, and 44 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Verizon Communications is outperform, with an average price target of $48.42.

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