Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE: FSL) reported earnings on Oct. 25. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Sep. 28 (Q3), Freescale Semiconductor beat expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue shrank and GAAP loss per share dropped. The non-GAAP profit was a surprise, as analysts had predicted a loss.

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

Revenue details
 Freescale Semiconductor logged revenue of $1.01 billion. The 13 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see net sales of $977.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 12% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.14 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 $0.04. The 10 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted -$0.05 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.10 for Q3 against -$0.36 per share for the prior-year quarter.

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 42.0%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 12.6%, 460 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -2.4%, 530 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $991.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.01.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $3.95 billion. The average EPS estimate is -$0.05.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 15 members out of 23 rating the stock outperform, and eight members rating it underperform. Among seven CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), four give Freescale Semiconductor a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Freescale Semiconductor is outperform, with an average price target of $13.55.

Is Freescale Semiconductor the best semiconductor stock for you? You may be missing something obvious. Check out the semiconductor company that Motley Fool analysts expect to lead "The Next Trillion-dollar Revolution." Click here for instant access to this free report.