Cadence Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: CADX) reported earnings on May 2. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue grew significantly. Non-GAAP loss per share shrank. GAAP loss per share dropped.

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
 Cadence Pharmaceuticals notched revenue of $23.6 million. The eight analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected a top line of $19.8 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $8.0 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 -$0.13. The six earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted -$0.14 per share. Non-GAAP EPS were -$0.13 for Q1 versus -$0.27 per share for the prior-year quarter. GAAP EPS were -$0.02 for Q1 versus -$0.27 per share for the prior-year quarter.

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 65.4%, much better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -33.6%, much better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -5.8%, much better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $23.1 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.11.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $100.6 million. The average EPS estimate is -$0.34.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 69 members out of 107 rating the stock outperform, and 38 members rating it underperform. Among 28 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 18 give Cadence Pharmaceuticals a green thumbs-up, and 10 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Cadence Pharmaceuticals is outperform, with an average price target of $6.38.