Gentiva Health Services (Nasdaq: GTIV) reported earnings on Nov. 1. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue shrank and GAAP loss per share contracted.

Margins grew across the board.

Revenue details
 Gentiva Health Services reported revenue of $424.4 million. The seven analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected a top line of $428.4 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 5.6% lower than the prior-year quarter's $449.7 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 $0.32. The seven earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.28 per share. GAAP EPS were -$0.02 for Q3 compared to -$15.62 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 47.3%, 130 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 9.3%, 170 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -0.1%, 10,520 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $433.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.33.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.72 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.25.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 276 members out of 298 rating the stock outperform, and 22 members rating it underperform. Among 91 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 85 give Gentiva Health Services a green thumbs-up, and six give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Gentiva Health Services is hold, with an average price target of $12.75.