Imperial Oil (AMEX: IMO) reported earnings on Nov. 1. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins contracted, operating margins expanded, net margins increased.

Revenue details
 Imperial Oil reported revenue of $8.46 billion. The four analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted a top line of $7.52 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 16% higher than the prior-year quarter's $7.29 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 $1.24. The nine earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $1.11 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.24 for Q3 were 28% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.97 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 16.6%, 400 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 16.6%, 200 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 12.5%, 120 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $7.63 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.93.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $30.35 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.85.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 341 members out of 357 rating the stock outperform, and 16 members rating it underperform. Among 88 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 84 give Imperial Oil 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 Imperial Oil is hold, with an average price target of $50.14.

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