FEI (Nasdaq: FEIC) reported earnings on April 30. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins expanded, operating margins shrank, net margins increased.

Revenue details
 FEI tallied revenue of $221.2 million. The 10 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw a top line of $221.4 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 $0.65. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.65 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.65 for Q1 were 3.2% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.63 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 46.4%, 130 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 15.5%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 12.1%, 30 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $229.1 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.66.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $946.0 million. The average EPS estimate is $3.08.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 271 members out of 281 rating the stock outperform, and 10 members rating it underperform. Among 75 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 74 give FEI 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 FEI is outperform, with an average price target of $66.80.

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