El Paso Pipeline Partners (NYSE: EPB) reported earnings on July 17. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended June 30 (Q2), El Paso Pipeline Partners missed estimates on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue shrank slightly. GAAP earnings per share shrank.

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

Revenue details
 El Paso Pipeline Partners reported revenue of $359.0 million. The six analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected a top line of $389.6 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were the same as the prior-year quarter's.

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 $0.40. The 13 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.48 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.40 for Q2 were 9.1% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.44 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 77.7%, 140 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 59.1%, 110 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 24.2%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $381.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.50.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.55 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.13.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 298 members out of 302 rating the stock outperform, and four members rating it underperform. Among 79 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 78 give El Paso Pipeline Partners a green thumbs-up, and one give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on El Paso Pipeline Partners is hold, with an average price target of $42.92.

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