CME Group (Nasdaq: CME) reported earnings on Oct. 25. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins shrank across the board.

Revenue details
 CME Group booked revenue of $683.2 million. The 15 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see revenue of $687.3 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 22% lower than the prior-year quarter's $874.2 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 $0.70. The 19 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.70 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.66 for Q3 were 31% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.95 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 97.2%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 58.0%, 740 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 31.9%, 430 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $681.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.68.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.95 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.05.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 763 members out of 813 rating the stock outperform, and 50 members rating it underperform. Among 214 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 199 give CME Group a green thumbs-up, and 15 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on CME Group is outperform, with an average price target of $58.94.

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