Waste Connections (NYSE: WCN) reported earnings on Oct. 22. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Sep. 30 (Q3), Waste Connections met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Gross margins dropped, operating margins dropped, net margins grew.

Revenue details
 Waste Connections chalked up revenue of $425.7 million. The seven analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $422.6 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 5.4% higher than the prior-year quarter's $404.0 million.

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 $0.40. The six earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.38 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.40 for Q3 were 2.4% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.41 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 42.9%, 50 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 20.2%, 220 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 11.6%, 10 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $409.0 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.35.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.62 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.42.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 144 members out of 154 rating the stock outperform, and 10 members rating it underperform. Among 48 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 47 give Waste Connections a green thumbs-up, and one give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Waste Connections is outperform, with an average price target of $35.50.