Superior Energy Services (NYSE: SPN) reported earnings on Oct. 24. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
 Superior Energy Services logged revenue of $1.18 billion. The nine analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted net sales of $1.15 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $565.3 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 $0.60. The 11 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.54 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.59 for Q3 were 19% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.73 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 39.9%, 680 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 15.2%, 320 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 8.0%, 250 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.12 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.51.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $4.49 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.55.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 838 members out of 850 rating the stock outperform, and 12 members rating it underperform. Among 180 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 176 give Superior Energy Services a green thumbs-up, and four give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Superior Energy Services is outperform, with an average price target of $28.41.

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