Tenneco (NYSE: TEN) reported earnings on Oct. 25. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins shrank, operating margins grew, net margins increased.

Revenue details
 Tenneco chalked up revenue of $1.78 billion. The 11 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $1.81 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 0.3% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.77 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 $0.85. The 14 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.75 per share. GAAP EPS of $2.05 for Q3 were 318% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.49 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 16.0%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 6.4%, 70 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 7.0%, 530 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.83 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.67.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $7.52 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.22.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 127 members out of 203 rating the stock outperform, and 76 members rating it underperform. Among 73 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 48 give Tenneco a green thumbs-up, and 25 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Tenneco is outperform, with an average price target of $40.64.

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