Broadcom (Nasdaq: BRCM) reported earnings on Oct. 23. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
 Broadcom booked revenue of $2.13 billion. The 38 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $2.09 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 12% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.91 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 $0.79. The 36 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.77 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.38 for Q3 were 21% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.48 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 50.0%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 12.2%, 250 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 10.3%, 390 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $2.12 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.78.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $8.01 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.93.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 949 members out of 1,028 rating the stock outperform, and 79 members rating it underperform. Among 218 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 201 give Broadcom a green thumbs-up, and 17 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Broadcom is outperform, with an average price target of $41.80.

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