Life Technologies (Nasdaq: LIFE) reported earnings on Nov. 1. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins contracted, operating margins contracted, net margins grew.

Revenue details
 Life Technologies reported revenue of $911.2 million. The 19 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted a top line of $908.6 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 1.8% lower than the prior-year quarter's $928.2 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 $0.92. The 23 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.89 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.55 for Q3 were 5.8% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.52 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 65.6%, 40 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 18.8%, 240 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 10.7%, 30 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $988.1 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.11.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $3.79 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.95.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 215 members out of 227 rating the stock outperform, and 12 members rating it underperform. Among 68 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 65 give Life Technologies a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Life Technologies is outperform, with an average price target of $52.00.