Bed Bath & Beyond (Nasdaq: BBBY) reported earnings on Dec. 21. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ending Nov. 26 (Q3), Bed Bath & Beyond met expectations on revenue and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue increased, and earnings per share increased significantly.

Gross margins were steady, operating margins expanded, and net margins improved.

Revenue details
 Bed Bath & Beyond tallied revenue of $2.3 billion. The 23 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected sales of $2.4 billion. Sales were 6.8% higher than the prior-year quarter's $2.2 billion.

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

EPS details
 EPS came in at $0.95. The 26 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.89 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.95 for Q3 were 28% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.74 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 40.9%, about the same as the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 15.2%, 130 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 9.8%, 120 basis points better 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 $2.7 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.30.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $9.4 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.83.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,012 members out of 1,214 rating the stock outperform, and 202 members rating it underperform. Among 453 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 409 give Bed Bath & Beyond a green thumbs-up, and 44 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Bed Bath & Beyond is outperform, with an average price target of $66.13.