Alere (NYSE: ALR) reported earnings on May 9. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
 Alere reported revenue of $739.2 million. The 10 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $727.0 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 10% higher than the prior-year quarter's $671.1 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 $0.53. The 11 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.52 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.53 for Q1 were 31% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.77 per share. GAAP EPS were $0.09 for Q1 compared to -$0.05 per share for the prior-year quarter.

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 49.3%, 430 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 4.1%, 370 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.7%, 150 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $717.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.51.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.94 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.24.

Investor sentiment

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Alere is outperform, with an average price target of $26.27.

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