Northwestern (NYSE: NWE) reported earnings on July 25. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended June 30 (Q2), Northwestern beat expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Gross margins shrank, operating margins increased, net margins grew.

Revenue details
 Northwestern reported revenue of $260.2 million. The two analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see a top line of $249.5 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 6.4% higher than the prior-year quarter's $244.6 million.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures are normalized by S&P Capital IQ and may vary to maintain comparability with normalized estimates.

EPS details
 EPS came in at $0.35. The six earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.30 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.35 for Q2 were 13% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.31 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.37 for Q2 were 19% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.31 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures are normalized by S&P Capital IQ and may vary to maintain comparability with normalized estimates.

Margin details
 For the quarter, gross margin was 58.9%, 170 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 12.6%, 90 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.5%, 80 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $245.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.41.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.12 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.57.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 52 members out of 60 rating the stock outperform, and eight members rating it underperform. Among 24 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 22 give Northwestern a green thumbs-up, and two give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Northwestern is outperform, with an average price target of $44.40.

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