Ralcorp Holdings (NYSE: RAH) reported earnings on Aug. 8. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended June 30 (Q3), Ralcorp Holdings met expectations on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue dropped and GAAP earnings per share improved.

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

Revenue details
Ralcorp Holdings notched revenue of $1.03 billion. The eight analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted net sales of $1.02 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 12% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.17 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 $0.60. The 11 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.62 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.53 for Q3 were 6.0% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.50 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 19.9%, 480 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 7.5%, 170 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.9%, 50 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.10 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.88.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $4.38 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.30.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 134 members out of 142 rating the stock outperform, and eight members rating it underperform. Among 48 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 47 give Ralcorp Holdings 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 Ralcorp Holdings is outperform, with an average price target of $76.00.