Green Plains Renewable Energy (Nasdaq: GPRE) reported earnings on Oct. 31. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue dropped slightly and GAAP earnings per share contracted to a loss.

Margins contracted across the board.

Revenue details
 Green Plains Renewable Energy reported revenue of $947.4 million. The six analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for revenue of $852.3 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 1.0% lower than the prior-year quarter's $957.0 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 -$0.03. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged -$0.22 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.03 for Q3 versus $0.32 per share for the prior-year quarter.

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 2.9%, 200 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 0.9%, 210 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -0.1%, 140 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $824.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.84.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $3.36 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.28.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 83 members out of 135 rating the stock outperform, and 52 members rating it underperform. Among 37 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 18 give Green Plains Renewable Energy a green thumbs-up, and 19 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Green Plains Renewable Energy is outperform, with an average price target of $6.43.

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