LB Foster (Nasdaq: FSTR) reported earnings on April 30. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins expanded across the board.

Revenue details
 LB Foster logged revenue of $129.3 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for a top line of $128.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 12% higher than the prior-year quarter's $116.0 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 $0.48. The three earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.40 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.48 for Q1 were 50% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.32 per share. (The prior-year quarter included $0.02 per share in earnings from discontinued operations.)

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 19.2%, 10 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 5.4%, 170 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 3.8%, 90 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $174.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.97.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $630.8 million. The average EPS estimate is $3.04.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 434 members out of 461 rating the stock outperform, and 27 members rating it underperform. Among 90 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 87 give LB Foster a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on LB Foster is outperform, with an average price target of $47.67.

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