Precision Castparts (NYSE: PCP) reported earnings on Jan. 24. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Dec. 30 (Q3), Precision Castparts missed estimates on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

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

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

Revenue details
 Precision Castparts notched revenue of $2.04 billion. The 14 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted sales of $2.10 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 12% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.82 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 $2.40. The 20 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $2.47 per share. GAAP EPS of $2.31 for Q3 were 9.5% higher than the prior-year quarter's $2.11 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 32.1%, 60 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 25.5%, 20 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 16.5%, 40 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $2.46 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $2.84.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $8.46 billion. The average EPS estimate is $9.92.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,279 members out of 1,310 rating the stock outperform, and 31 members rating it underperform. Among 390 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 387 give Precision Castparts 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 Precision Castparts is outperform, with an average price target of $198.11.

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