Nova Measuring Instruments (Nasdaq: NVMI) reported earnings on April 30. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins contracted across the board.

Revenue details
 Nova Measuring Instruments reported revenue of $27.4 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $26.0 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 21% higher than the prior-year quarter's $22.6 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 $0.13. The three earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.12 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.13 for Q1 were 30% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.10 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.09 for Q1 were 10% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.10 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 53.8%, 180 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 10.7%, 380 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 8.7%, 340 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $27.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.15.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $106.4 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.56.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 89 members out of 93 rating the stock outperform, and four members rating it underperform. Among 10 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), nine give Nova Measuring Instruments 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 Nova Measuring Instruments is buy, with an average price target of $11.33.

Is Nova Measuring Instruments your best play in technology? Computers, mobile devices, and related services are creating huge amounts of valuable data, but only for companies that can crunch the numbers and make sense of it. Meet the leader in this field in "The Only Stock You Need To Profit From the NEW Technology Revolution." Click here for instant access to this free report.