General Cable (NYSE: BGC) reported earnings on Oct. 29. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
 General Cable notched revenue of $1.50 billion. The seven analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see a top line of $1.47 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 1.0% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.52 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 $0.60. The seven earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.66 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.62 for Q3 were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.07 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 11.2%, 90 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 5.0%, 80 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.1%, 190 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.51 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.62.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $5.88 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.46.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 610 members out of 637 rating the stock outperform, and 27 members rating it underperform. Among 150 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 143 give General Cable a green thumbs-up, and seven give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on General Cable is outperform, with an average price target of $39.33.