Salix Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: SLXP) reported earnings on May 9. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), Salix Pharmaceuticals missed estimates on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

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

Margins expanded across the board.

Revenue details
 Salix Pharmaceuticals reported revenue of $202.6 million. The 16 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see sales of $206.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 18% higher than the prior-year quarter's $171.1 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 $0.63. The 16 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.67 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.63 for Q1 were 6.0% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.67 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.35 for Q1 were 133% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.15 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 83.7%, 370 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 25.6%, 310 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 11.1%, 530 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $226.1 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.81.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $923.8 million. The average EPS estimate is $3.44.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 126 members out of 149 rating the stock outperform, and 23 members rating it underperform. Among 49 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 43 give Salix Pharmaceuticals a green thumbs-up, and six give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Salix Pharmaceuticals is outperform, with an average price target of $56.17.