Emerson Electric (NYSE: EMR) reported earnings on May 7. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended March 31 (Q2), Emerson Electric met expectations on revenues and met expectations on earnings per share.

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

Gross margins grew, operating margins dropped, net margins grew.

Revenue details
 Emerson Electric reported revenue of $5.96 billion. The 20 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted a top line of $6.03 billion 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 $0.77. The 26 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.78 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.77 for Q2 were 4.1% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.74 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 39.8%, 30 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 14.9%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 9.4%, 20 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $6.66 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.06.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $25.18 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.59.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,384 members out of 1,411 rating the stock outperform, and 27 members rating it underperform. Among 374 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 368 give Emerson Electric a green thumbs-up, and six give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Emerson Electric is outperform, with an average price target of $61.35.

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