Vulcan Materials (NYSE: VMC) reported earnings on Nov. 8. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins expanded, operating margins increased, net margins shrank.

Revenue details
 Vulcan Materials logged revenue of $728.9 million. The 11 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated revenue of $788.6 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 4.2% lower than the prior-year quarter's $760.8 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 $0.14. The 12 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.17 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.11 for Q3 were 27% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.15 per share. (The prior-year quarter included -$0.02 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 17.4%, 220 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 7.8%, 200 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.0%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $640.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.07.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.64 billion. The average EPS estimate is -$0.38.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 445 members out of 496 rating the stock outperform, and 51 members rating it underperform. Among 147 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 132 give Vulcan Materials 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 Vulcan Materials is hold, with an average price target of $48.57.