Symantec (Nasdaq: SYMC) reported earnings on Oct. 24. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Sep. 28 (Q2), Symantec beat expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Gross margins contracted, operating margins grew, net margins grew.

Revenue details
 Symantec chalked up revenue of $1.70 billion. The 27 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated a top line of $1.65 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 1.1% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.68 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 $0.45. The 29 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.38 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.27 for Q2 were 13% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.24 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 84.4%, 120 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 19.3%, 190 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 11.4%, 60 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.72 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.42.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $6.77 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.63.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 538 members out of 630 rating the stock outperform, and 92 members rating it underperform. Among 155 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 131 give Symantec a green thumbs-up, and 24 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Symantec is outperform, with an average price target of $19.02.

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