RPC (NYSE: RES) reported earnings on Oct. 24. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Sep. 30 (Q3), RPC missed estimates on revenues and beat expectations 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
 RPC notched revenue of $472.4 million. The eight analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $486.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 5.9% lower than the prior-year quarter's $502.2 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 $0.30. The eight earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.28 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.30 for Q3 were 21% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.38 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 42.6%, 170 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 22.0%, 560 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 14.0%, 250 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $478.3 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.24.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.96 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.23.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 458 members out of 482 rating the stock outperform, and 24 members rating it underperform. Among 131 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 124 give RPC 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 RPC is hold, with an average price target of $12.08.

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