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

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

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

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

Revenue details
 SJW reported revenue of $82.4 million. The four analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected sales of $79.0 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 11% higher than the prior-year quarter's $73.9 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 $0.53. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.44 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.53 for Q3 were 20% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.44 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 51.4%, 80 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 25.3%, 30 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 12.2%, 110 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $61.2 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.21.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $257.0 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.99.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 96 members out of 102 rating the stock outperform, and six members rating it underperform. Among 28 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 28 give SJW a green thumbs-up, and give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on SJW is buy, with an average price target of $27.00.

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