Mueller Industries (NYSE: MLI) reported earnings on Oct. 23. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Sep. 29 (Q3), Mueller Industries missed estimates on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

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

Margins expanded across the board.

Revenue details
 Mueller Industries booked revenue of $514.2 million. The one analyst polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $547.3 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 12% lower than the prior-year quarter's $585.8 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 $0.41. The two earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.49 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.41 for Q3 were 52% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.27 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 12.5%, 190 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 4.8%, 160 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 3.0%, 120 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $515.1 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.59.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.28 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.31.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 153 members out of 162 rating the stock outperform, and nine members rating it underperform. Among 49 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 48 give Mueller Industries a green thumbs-up, and one give it a red thumbs-down.