Sequenom (Nasdaq: SQNM) reported earnings on May 9. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue increased significantly. GAAP loss per share increased.

Gross margins dropped, operating margins expanded, net margins expanded.

Revenue details
 Sequenom notched revenue of $38.5 million. The nine analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted sales of $38.3 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $14.9 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 -$0.26. The nine earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted -$0.23 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.26 for Q1 against -$0.22 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 36.3%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -70.2%, much better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -76.3%, much better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $44.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.22.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $190.9 million. The average EPS estimate is -$0.78.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 657 members out of 716 rating the stock outperform, and 59 members rating it underperform. Among 154 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 137 give Sequenom a green thumbs-up, and 17 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Sequenom is outperform, with an average price target of $7.00.

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