Actuate (Nasdaq: BIRT) reported earnings on Oct. 29. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Margins contracted across the board.

Revenue details
 Actuate reported revenue of $32.2 million. The six analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ looked for sales of $34.6 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 4.8% lower than the prior-year quarter's $33.8 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 $0.08. The six earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.11 per share. GAAP EPS contracted to zero from the prior-year quarter's $0.09.

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 82.4%, 160 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 8.5%, 1,210 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 0.3%, 1,370 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $37.1 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.14.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $142.8 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.47.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 482 members out of 497 rating the stock outperform, and 15 members rating it underperform. Among 101 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 97 give Actuate a green thumbs-up, and four give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Actuate is buy, with an average price target of $8.67.

Software and computerized services are being consumed in radically different ways, on new and increasingly mobile devices. Many old leaders will be left behind. Whether or not Actuate makes the coming cut, you should check out the company that Motley Fool analysts expect to lead the pack in "The Next Trillion-dollar Revolution." Click here for instant access to this free report.