Compass Minerals International (NYSE: CMP) reported earnings on April 29. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Compass Minerals International beat expectations on revenues and crushed expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins shrank across the board.

Revenue details
 Compass Minerals International reported revenue of $383.7 million. The six analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted net sales of $350.4 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 22% higher than the prior-year quarter's $315.3 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 $1.38. The nine earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $1.14 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.38 for Q1 were 16% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.19 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 23.8%, 250 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 17.6%, 190 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 12.1%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $186.2 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.48.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.07 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.97.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 762 members out of 789 rating the stock outperform, and 27 members rating it underperform. Among 168 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 161 give Compass Minerals International a green thumbs-up, and seven give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Compass Minerals International is hold, with an average price target of $72.71.

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