LHC Group (Nasdaq: LHCG) reported earnings on May 8. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins were steady, operating margins dropped, net margins dropped.

Revenue details
 LHC Group reported revenue of $162.0 million. The seven analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $165.1 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 $0.37. The eight earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.33 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.37 for Q1 were 12% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.42 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 42.4%, much about the same as the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 8.1%, 170 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 3.9%, 110 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $167.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.28.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $672.6 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.25.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 230 members out of 238 rating the stock outperform, and eight members rating it underperform. Among 56 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 54 give LHC Group a green thumbs-up, and two give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on LHC Group is outperform, with an average price target of $20.57.

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