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

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

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

Gross margins increased, operating margins were steady, net margins expanded.

Revenue details
 CNH Global booked revenue of $4.70 billion. The six analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted sales of $4.58 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 $1.33. The eight earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.97 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $1.33 for Q1 were 20% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.11 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.35 for Q1 were 22% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.11 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 24.7%, 70 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 12.1%, much about the same as the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 6.6%, 110 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $5.24 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.48.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $20.01 billion. The average EPS estimate is $5.07.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 289 members out of 316 rating the stock outperform, and 27 members rating it underperform. Among 64 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 63 give CNH Global a green thumbs-up, and one give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on CNH Global is hold, with an average price target of $48.78.

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Seth Jayson had no position in any company mentioned here at the time of publication. You can view his stock holdings here. He is co-advisor of Motley Fool Hidden Gems, which provides new small-cap ideas every month, backed by a real-money portfolio. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.