Comcast (Nasdaq: CMCSA) reported earnings on Oct. 26. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
 Comcast booked revenue of $16.54 billion. The 27 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for a top line of $16.09 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 15% higher than the prior-year quarter's $14.34 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 $0.46. The 29 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.46 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.78 for Q3 were 136% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.33 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 30.3%, 940 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 18.4%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 12.8%, 650 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $15.85 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.54.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $62.08 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.95.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 864 members out of 1,042 rating the stock outperform, and 178 members rating it underperform. Among 310 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 261 give Comcast a green thumbs-up, and 49 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Comcast is outperform, with an average price target of $38.10.