Rockwell Collins (NYSE: COL) reported earnings on Oct. 26. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Sep. 30 (Q4), Rockwell Collins missed estimates on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Gross margins expanded, operating margins grew, net margins dropped.

Revenue details
 Rockwell Collins reported revenue of $1.27 billion. The 15 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see revenue of $1.32 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 2.3% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.30 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 $1.32. The 18 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $1.10 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.06 for Q4 were 6.2% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.13 per share. (The prior-year quarter included $0.11 per share in earnings from discontinued operations.)

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 23.5%, 260 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 22.4%, 300 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 12.0%, 150 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $978.1 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.88.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $4.67 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.46.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 339 members out of 358 rating the stock outperform, and 19 members rating it underperform. Among 102 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 99 give Rockwell Collins 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 Rockwell Collins is outperform, with an average price target of $57.25.

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