Golf Clap for AZZ

AZZ (NYSE: AZZ  ) reported earnings on Jan. 6. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Nov. 30 (Q3), AZZ met expectations on revenues and met expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue expanded, and earnings per share improved slightly.

Gross margins contracted, operating margins expanded, net margins dropped.

Revenue details
AZZ tallied revenue of $116 million. The four analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for a top line of $116 million. Sales were 13% higher than the prior-year quarter's $103 million

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions.

EPS details
EPS came in at $0.79. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.79 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.79 for Q3 were 2.6% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.77 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Figures may be non-GAAP to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 26.4%, 50 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 16.7%, 40 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 8.6%, 80 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods.

Looking ahead
What does the future hold?

Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $117 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.80.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $461 million. The average EPS estimate is $3.09.

Investor Sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 777 members out of 794 rating the stock outperform, and 17 members rating it underperform. Among 212 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 207 give AZZ a green thumbs-up, and five give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on AZZ is outperform, with an average price target of $58.50.

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