Actuate (Nasdaq: BIRT) reported earnings on April 29. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue was unchanged. Non-GAAP earnings per share dropped significantly. GAAP earnings per share dropped.

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

Revenue details
Actuate tallied revenue of $34.9 million. The seven analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for sales of $34.0 million 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 $0.08. The six earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.08 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.08 for Q1 were 27% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.11 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.06 for Q1 were 14% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.07 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 84.1%, 50 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 8.3%, 980 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 8.6%, 250 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $35.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.10.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $142.4 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.38.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 485 members out of 500 rating the stock outperform, and 15 members rating it underperform. Among 92 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 87 give Actuate a green thumbs-up, and five give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Actuate is outperform, with an average price target of $7.67.

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