Optimer Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: OPTR) reported earnings on Nov. 1. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
 Optimer Pharmaceuticals reported revenue of $17.9 million. The 11 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $17.6 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 62% higher than the prior-year quarter's $11.1 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 -$0.56. The eight earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted -$0.63 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.56 for Q3 against -$0.57 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 25.3%, 2,500 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -147.0%, 9,650 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -149.8%, 8,930 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $19.0 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.44.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $100.7 million. The average EPS estimate is -$1.41.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 108 members out of 142 rating the stock outperform, and 34 members rating it underperform. Among 46 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 32 give Optimer Pharmaceuticals a green thumbs-up, and 14 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Optimer Pharmaceuticals is outperform, with an average price target of $19.13.