NiSource (NYSE: NI) reported earnings on April 30. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins contracted, operating margins were steady, net margins grew.

Revenue details
 NiSource booked revenue of $1.79 billion. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see a top line of $1.69 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 8.1% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.66 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 $0.69. The 10 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.72 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.69 for Q1 were 5.5% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.73 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.83 for Q1 were 26% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.66 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 36.3%, 130 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 23.5%, much about the same as the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 14.5%, 290 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.12 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.24.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $5.64 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.55.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 151 members out of 176 rating the stock outperform, and 25 members rating it underperform. Among 51 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 47 give NiSource a green thumbs-up, and four give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on NiSource is hold, with an average price target of $27.32.

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