NuStar Energy (NYSE: NS) reported earnings on Oct. 25. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
 NuStar Energy reported revenue of $1.74 billion. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $1.52 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 4.4% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.82 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 $0.19. The 10 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.50 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.06 for Q3 were 94% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.93 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 6.6%, 180 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 2.9%, 220 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 0.2%, 360 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.02 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.63.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $6.08 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.45.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 354 members out of 371 rating the stock outperform, and 17 members rating it underperform. Among 120 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 118 give NuStar Energy a green thumbs-up, and two give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on NuStar Energy is hold, with an average price target of $56.55.

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