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

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

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

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

Revenue details
 PerkinElmer notched revenue of $509.6 million. The 12 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected sales of $504.2 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 12% higher than the prior-year quarter's $453.7 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 $0.45. The 15 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.44 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.26 for Q3 were 16% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.31 per share. (The prior-year quarter included $0.08 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 45.3%, 130 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 10.4%, 260 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.8%, 200 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $572.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.64.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.13 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.05.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 114 members out of 126 rating the stock outperform, and 12 members rating it underperform. Among 37 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 35 give PerkinElmer a green thumbs-up, and two give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on PerkinElmer is outperform, with an average price target of $31.62.