Ecolab (NYSE: ECL) reported earnings on July 31. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended June 30 (Q2), Ecolab missed estimates on revenue and met expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins contracted across the board.

Revenue details
Ecolab logged revenue of $2.96 billion. The 14 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see revenue of $3.02 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 74% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.70 billion.

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 $0.72. The 17 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.72 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.62 for Q2 were 17% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.53 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 45.6%, 370 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 12.4%, 100 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 6.2%, 120 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $3.13 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.91.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $12.04 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.02.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 259 members out of 272 rating the stock outperform, and 13 members rating it underperform. Among 85 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 84 give Ecolab a green thumbs-up, and one gives it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Ecolab is outperform, with an average price target of $69.93.