EZchip Semiconductor (Nasdaq: EZCH) reported earnings on May 8. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
 EZchip Semiconductor tallied revenue of $15.3 million. The nine analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw revenue of $15.1 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 6.1% higher than the prior-year quarter's $14.4 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 $0.23. The nine earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.23 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.23 for Q1 were 15% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.27 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.12 for Q1 were 33% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.18 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 80.8%, 410 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 19.6%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 22.9%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $16.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.27.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $69.6 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.12.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 245 members out of 256 rating the stock outperform, and 11 members rating it underperform. Among 43 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 40 give EZchip Semiconductor 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 EZchip Semiconductor is outperform, with an average price target of $33.89.

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