TransAlta (NYSE: TAC) reported earnings on Oct. 26. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Sep. 30 (Q3), TransAlta missed estimates on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

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

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
 TransAlta chalked up revenue of $546.2 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $588.1 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 9.8% lower than the prior-year quarter's $605.5 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 $0.18. The nine earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.23 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.24 for Q3 were 9.1% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.22 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 41.1%, 410 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 16.9%, 20 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 11.9%, 330 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $659.9 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.30.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.37 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.65.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 85 members out of 90 rating the stock outperform, and five members rating it underperform. Among 22 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 20 give TransAlta a green thumbs-up, and two give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on TransAlta is hold, with an average price target of $21.96.

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