Ecolab (NYSE: ECL) reported earnings on Oct. 30. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins shrank across the board.

Revenue details
 Ecolab reported revenue of $3.02 billion. The 14 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated revenue of $3.07 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 74% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.74 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 $0.87. The 17 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.87 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.80 for Q3 were 23% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.65 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 46.5%, 320 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 14.2%, 120 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 7.9%, 100 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $3.06 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.90.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $11.90 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.99.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 265 members out of 279 rating the stock outperform, and 14 members rating it underperform. Among 90 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 88 give Ecolab 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 Ecolab is outperform, with an average price target of $71.33.