L-3 Communications Holdings (NYSE: LLL) reported earnings on Nov. 1. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Sep. 28 (Q3), L-3 Communications Holdings beat slightly on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

Margins contracted across the board.

Revenue details
 L-3 Communications Holdings logged revenue of $3.28 billion. The 13 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ foresaw sales of $3.25 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 13% lower than the prior-year quarter's $3.79 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 $1.94. The 15 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $1.86 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.97 for Q3 were 12% lower than the prior-year quarter's $2.24 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 10.1%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 10.1%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.8%, 40 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $3.49 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $2.18.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $13.05 billion. The average EPS estimate is $7.84.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 896 members out of 932 rating the stock outperform, and 36 members rating it underperform. Among 224 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 216 give L-3 Communications Holdings a green thumbs-up, and eight give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on L-3 Communications Holdings is hold, with an average price target of $75.00.

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