JA Solar Holdings (Nasdaq: JASO) reported earnings on May 22. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), JA Solar Holdings crushed expectations on revenues and exceeded expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue grew. GAAP loss per share dropped.

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
 JA Solar Holdings recorded revenue of $270.0 million. The one analyst polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see net sales of $209.1 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 6.1% higher than the prior-year quarter's $254.3 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 -$0.85. The two earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted -$1.20 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.85 for Q1 versus -$1.02 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 6.0%, 390 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -5.1%, 480 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -12.2%, 350 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $252.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.59.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.08 billion. The average EPS estimate is -$2.62.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,541 members out of 1,654 rating the stock outperform, and 113 members rating it underperform. Among 209 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 173 give JA Solar Holdings a green thumbs-up, and 36 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on JA Solar Holdings is underperform, with an average price target of $3.28.

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