Hershey (NYSE: HSY) reported earnings on Oct. 25. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins were steady, operating margins contracted, net margins dropped.

Revenue details
 Hershey recorded revenue of $1.75 billion. The 11 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $1.74 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 7.5% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.62 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 $0.87. The 16 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.86 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.78 for Q3 were 9.3% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.86 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 42.5%, about the same as the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 18.4%, 220 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 10.1%, 200 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.69 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.76.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $6.58 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.23.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 525 members out of 633 rating the stock outperform, and 108 members rating it underperform. Among 197 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 170 give Hershey a green thumbs-up, and 27 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Hershey is outperform, with an average price target of $72.93.

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