General Cable (NYSE: BGC) reported earnings on Aug. 3. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended June 29 (Q2), General Cable missed estimates on revenues and met expectations on earnings per share.

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

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

Revenue details
 General Cable booked revenue of $1.48 billion. The six analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $1.60 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 3.5% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.53 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 $0.74. The seven earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.73 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.43 for Q2 were 37% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.68 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 12.0%, 60 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 5.3%, 10 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.5%, 100 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.45 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.66.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $5.78 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.48.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 615 members out of 644 rating the stock outperform, and 29 members rating it underperform. Among 146 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 138 give General Cable a green thumbs-up, and eight give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on General Cable is outperform, with an average price target of $44.00.

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