Northwest Pipe (Nasdaq: NWPX) reported earnings on May 6. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins increased across the board.

Revenue details
 Northwest Pipe tallied revenue of $140.6 million. The two analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see a top line of $131.9 million 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 $1.00. The two earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.29 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.00 for Q1 were 100% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.50 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 15.1%, 350 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 10.5%, 400 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 6.8%, 350 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $126.0 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.30.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $493.3 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.21.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 218 members out of 229 rating the stock outperform, and 11 members rating it underperform. Among 41 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 38 give Northwest Pipe 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 Northwest Pipe is outperform, with an average price target of $30.67.

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