eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY) reported earnings on Oct. 17. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
eBay notched revenue of $3.40 billion. The 33 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $3.41 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 15% higher than the prior-year quarter's $2.97 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 $0.55. The 36 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.54 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.45 for Q3 were 22% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.37 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 70.0%, 100 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 19.6%, 150 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 17.5%, 100 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $3.95 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.69.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $14.05 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.35.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 3,719 members out of 4,283 rating the stock outperform, and 564 members rating it underperform. Among 1,182 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 1,095 give eBay a green thumbs-up, and 87 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on eBay is outperform, with an average price target of $51.01.

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