Tractor Supply (Nasdaq: TSCO) reported earnings on Oct. 24. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins were steady, operating margins expanded, net margins expanded.

Revenue details
 Tractor Supply notched revenue of $1.07 billion. The 22 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for a top line of $1.07 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 9.0% higher than the prior-year quarter's $977.8 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 $0.69. The 22 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.67 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.69 for Q3 were 19% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.58 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 33.5%, about the same as the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 7.3%, 30 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 4.7%, 30 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.29 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.04.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $4.67 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.71.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 337 members out of 375 rating the stock outperform, and 38 members rating it underperform. Among 122 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 114 give Tractor Supply a green thumbs-up, and eight give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Tractor Supply is outperform, with an average price target of $102.66.

If you're invested in retailers like Tractor Supply, you should check out the concept that is The Motley Fool's top stock for 2012. Its founder wrote the book on big box retailing, and it's growing in increasingly important international markets. Click here for instant access to this free report.