Zimmer Holdings (NYSE: ZMH) reported earnings on Oct. 25. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins contracted, operating margins increased, net margins dropped.

Revenue details
 Zimmer Holdings reported revenue of $1.03 billion. The 26 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see a top line of $1.03 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 0.6% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.03 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 $1.15. The 29 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $1.13 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.02 for Q3 were 1.0% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.01 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 75.1%, 70 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 27.9%, 110 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 17.4%, 120 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.19 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.51.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $4.48 billion. The average EPS estimate is $5.27.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 598 members out of 627 rating the stock outperform, and 29 members rating it underperform. Among 201 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 194 give Zimmer Holdings 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 Zimmer Holdings is outperform, with an average price target of $68.54.