Praxair (NYSE: PX) reported earnings on Oct. 24. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
 Praxair reported revenue of $2.77 billion. The 13 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see revenue of $2.84 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 4.2% lower than the prior-year quarter's $2.90 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 $1.39. The 17 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $1.39 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.43 for Q3 were 2.1% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.40 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 42.5%, 60 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 22.5%, 100 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 15.5%, 70 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $2.83 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.43.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $11.34 billion. The average EPS estimate is $5.62.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 670 members out of 696 rating the stock outperform, and 26 members rating it underperform. Among 149 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 146 give Praxair a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Praxair is outperform, with an average price target of $117.28.

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