General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) reported earnings on April 24. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), General Dynamics missed slightly on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue dropped slightly. GAAP earnings per share increased.

Gross margins dropped, operating margins grew, net margins grew.

Revenue details
 General Dynamics reported revenue of $7.40 billion. The 15 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for revenue of $7.54 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 $1.62. The 18 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $1.50 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.62 for Q1 were 3.2% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.57 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 11.4%, 700 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 11.4%, 10 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 7.7%, 30 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $7.79 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.63.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $31.47 billion. The average EPS estimate is $6.68.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,287 members out of 1,354 rating the stock outperform, and 67 members rating it underperform. Among 347 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 332 give General Dynamics a green thumbs-up, and 15 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on General Dynamics is outperform, with an average price target of $75.31.

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