Deluxe (NYSE: DLX) reported earnings on Oct. 25. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins dropped, operating margins grew, net margins increased.

Revenue details
 Deluxe reported revenue of $378.3 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see net sales of $367.5 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 6.5% higher than the prior-year quarter's $355.1 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 $0.85. The three earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.80 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.81 for Q3 were 14% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.71 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 65.2%, 30 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 19.9%, 10 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 11.0%, 70 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $376.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.87.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.49 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.40.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 204 members out of 224 rating the stock outperform, and 20 members rating it underperform. Among 62 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 55 give Deluxe 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 Deluxe is buy, with an average price target of $35.67.

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