Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL) reported earnings on Oct. 25. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins expanded across the board.

Revenue details
 Colgate-Palmolive tallied revenue of $4.33 billion. The 17 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected net sales of $4.39 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 1.2% lower than the prior-year quarter's $4.38 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 $1.38. The 21 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $1.39 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.36 for Q3 were 3.8% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.31 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 58.4%, 160 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 23.7%, 80 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 15.1%, 40 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $4.32 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.40.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $17.22 billion. The average EPS estimate is $5.36.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,298 members out of 1,349 rating the stock outperform, and 51 members rating it underperform. Among 460 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 447 give Colgate-Palmolive a green thumbs-up, and 13 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Colgate-Palmolive is hold, with an average price target of $107.82.

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