General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) reported earnings on Oct. 24. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins contracted across the board.

Revenue details
 General Dynamics chalked up revenue of $7.93 billion. The 17 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see revenue of $8.04 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 1.0% higher than the prior-year quarter's $7.85 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 $1.75. The 22 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $1.78 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.70 for Q3 were 5.0% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.79 per share. (The prior-year quarter included -$0.04 per share in earnings from discontinued operations.)

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 11.4%, 760 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 11.4%, 130 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 7.6%, 70 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $8.77 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.97.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $32.31 billion. The average EPS estimate is $7.07.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,285 members out of 1,350 rating the stock outperform, and 65 members rating it underperform. Among 330 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 317 give General Dynamics a green thumbs-up, and 13 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on General Dynamics is outperform, with an average price target of $74.44.

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