UIL Holdings (NYSE: UIL) reported earnings on May 2. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
 UIL Holdings booked revenue of $548.0 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw sales of $501.3 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 20% higher than the prior-year quarter's $458.3 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 $1.01. The seven earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.97 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.01 for Q1 were 9.8% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.92 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 33.2%, 270 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 17.6%, 150 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 9.5%, 80 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $247.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.28.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.55 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.16.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 69 members out of 73 rating the stock outperform, and four members rating it underperform. Among 26 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 25 give UIL Holdings 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 UIL Holdings is hold, with an average price target of $37.70.

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