Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI) reported earnings on Oct. 24. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Sep. 29 (Q3), Motorola Solutions met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins increased across the board.

Revenue details
 Motorola Solutions recorded revenue of $2.15 billion. The 14 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see sales of $2.15 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 2.3% higher than the prior-year quarter's $2.11 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 $0.84. The 17 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.73 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.72 for Q3 were 89% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.38 per share. (The prior-year quarter included -$0.07 per share in earnings from discontinued operations.)

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 50.5%, 10 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 15.0%, 10 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 9.6%, 350 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $2.42 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.01.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $8.68 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.03.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,963 members out of 2,403 rating the stock outperform, and 440 members rating it underperform. Among 421 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 342 give Motorola Solutions a green thumbs-up, and 79 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Motorola Solutions is outperform, with an average price target of $52.94.

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