Westar Energy (NYSE: WR) reported earnings on May 8. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins increased across the board.

Revenue details
 Westar Energy booked revenue of $546.2 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see a top line of $511.0 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 15% higher than the prior-year quarter's $475.7 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 $0.40. The eight earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.31 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.40 for Q1 were 90% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.21 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 43.2%, 280 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 22.0%, 700 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 9.4%, 360 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $576.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.48.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.32 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.11.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 166 members out of 175 rating the stock outperform, and nine members rating it underperform. Among 59 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 57 give Westar Energy 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 Westar Energy is hold, with an average price target of $33.05.

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