BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) reported earnings on Oct. 17. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
 BlackRock logged revenue of $2.32 billion. The 13 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for revenue of $2.27 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 4.3% higher than the prior-year quarter's $2.23 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 $3.47. The 20 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $3.31 per share. GAAP EPS of $3.65 for Q3 were 13% higher than the prior-year quarter's $3.23 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 53.5%, 70 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 37.7%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 27.7%, 100 basis points better 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 $3.65.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $9.25 billion. The average EPS estimate is $13.29.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 443 members out of 491 rating the stock outperform, and 48 members rating it underperform. Among 113 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 101 give BlackRock a green thumbs-up, and 12 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on BlackRock is outperform, with an average price target of $205.11.

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