Chicago Bridge & Iron (NYSE: CBI) reported earnings on Oct. 23. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Sep. 30 (Q3), Chicago Bridge & Iron met expectations on revenues and met expectations on earnings per share.

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

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

Revenue details
 Chicago Bridge & Iron chalked up revenue of $1.45 billion. The 13 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw a top line of $1.47 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 15% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.26 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 $0.82. The 15 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.81 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.82 for Q3 were 14% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.72 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 13.1%, 140 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 8.8%, 160 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.5%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.53 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.85.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $5.55 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.00.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,322 members out of 1,353 rating the stock outperform, and 31 members rating it underperform. Among 325 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 318 give Chicago Bridge & Iron a green thumbs-up, and seven give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Chicago Bridge & Iron is outperform, with an average price target of $48.50.