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

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

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

Margins contracted across the board.

Revenue details
 Noble reported revenue of $884.0 million. The 21 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated a top line of $903.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 23% higher than the prior-year quarter's $720.5 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 $0.45. The 27 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.52 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.45 for Q3 were 15% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.53 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 47.7%, 140 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 20.2%, 250 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 13.0%, 580 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.01 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.84.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $3.60 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.42.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 2,216 members out of 2,249 rating the stock outperform, and 33 members rating it underperform. Among 512 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 504 give Noble a green thumbs-up, and eight give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Noble is outperform, with an average price target of $47.65.

Is Noble the right energy stock for you? Read about a handful of timely, profit-producing plays on expensive crude in "3 Stocks for $100 Oil." Click here for instant access to this free report.