VMware (NYSE: VMW) reported earnings on Oct. 23. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
 VMware reported revenue of $1.13 billion. The 36 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for a top line of $1.13 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 20% higher than the prior-year quarter's $941.9 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 $0.70. The 38 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.63 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.36 for Q3 were 12% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.41 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 84.2%, 40 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 16.8%, 240 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 13.8%, 500 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.28 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.73.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $4.59 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.70.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 2,135 members out of 2,315 rating the stock outperform, and 180 members rating it underperform. Among 506 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 466 give VMware a green thumbs-up, and 40 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on VMware is outperform, with an average price target of $111.53.

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