Nasdaq OMX Group (Nasdaq: NDAQ) reported earnings on Oct. 24. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins expanded across the board.

Revenue details
 Nasdaq OMX Group notched revenue of $409.0 million. The 14 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated revenue of $411.3 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 21% lower than the prior-year quarter's $946.0 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 $0.62. The 17 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.60 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.52 for Q3 were 15% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.61 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 55.0%, 870 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 24.9%, 300 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 12.0%, 40 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $421.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.65.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.66 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.47.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 580 members out of 601 rating the stock outperform, and 21 members rating it underperform. Among 156 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 151 give Nasdaq OMX Group a green thumbs-up, and five give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Nasdaq OMX Group is outperform, with an average price target of $27.86.

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