Natural Gas Services Group (NYSE: NGS) reported earnings on May 9. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue dropped. GAAP earnings per share increased.

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
 Natural Gas Services Group reported revenue of $24.0 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for a top line of $22.4 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 9.1% lower than the prior-year quarter's $26.4 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 $0.32. The five earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.27 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.32 for Q1 were 10% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.29 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 51.0%, 850 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 25.6%, 430 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 16.7%, 340 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $22.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.27.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $93.0 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.14.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 447 members out of 467 rating the stock outperform, and 20 members rating it underperform. Among 59 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 52 give Natural Gas Services Group a green thumbs-up, and seven give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Natural Gas Services Group is buy, with an average price target of $22.60.

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