Dean Foods (NYSE: DF) reported earnings on Nov. 8. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
 Dean Foods chalked up revenue of $3.14 billion. The nine analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see a top line of $3.26 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 7.8% lower than the prior-year quarter's $3.41 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 $0.33. The 11 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.28 per share. GAAP EPS were $0.20 for Q3 versus -$8.39 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 24.9%, 320 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 6.0%, 330 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.2%, 4,640 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $3.38 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.27.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $12.95 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.21.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 449 members out of 497 rating the stock outperform, and 48 members rating it underperform. Among 120 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 105 give Dean Foods a green thumbs-up, and 15 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Dean Foods is outperform, with an average price target of $18.56.