NiSource (NYSE: NI) reported earnings on Nov. 2. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
 NiSource booked revenue of $973.5 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see revenue of $1.04 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 7.5% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.05 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 $0.05. The nine earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.05 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.06 for Q3 were 50% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.12 per share. (The prior-year quarter included -$0.01 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 32.6%, 200 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 13.2%, 50 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.0%, 130 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.44 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.43.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $5.31 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.42.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 155 members out of 179 rating the stock outperform, and 24 members rating it underperform. Among 53 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 50 give NiSource a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on NiSource is hold, with an average price target of $26.15.

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