Oracle (Nasdaq: ORCL) reported earnings on March 20. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Feb. 28 (Q3), Oracle missed estimates on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

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

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

Revenue details
Oracle logged revenue of $8.97 billion. The 31 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted net sales of $9.37 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were the same as the prior-year quarter's.

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 $0.65. The 36 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.66 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.65 for Q3 were 4.8% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.62 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.52 for Q3 were 6.1% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.49 per share.

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 80.8%, 190 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 37.7%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 28.0%, 40 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $11.15 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.88.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $37.44 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.68.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 3,451 members out of 3,664 rating the stock outperform, and 213 members rating it underperform. Among 810 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 776 give Oracle a green thumbs-up, and 34 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Oracle is outperform, with an average price target of $37.55.

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