Thoratec (Nasdaq: THOR) reported earnings on Nov. 1. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Sep. 29 (Q3), Thoratec 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 dropped, operating margins dropped, net margins expanded.

Revenue details
 Thoratec logged revenue of $117.8 million. The 19 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see net sales of $111.7 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 15% higher than the prior-year quarter's $102.6 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 $0.49. The 17 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $0.39 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.41 for Q3 were 37% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.30 per share. (The prior-year quarter included -$0.02 per share in earnings from discontinued operations.)

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 69.3%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 27.8%, 80 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 20.6%, 310 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $115.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.38.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $472.1 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.81.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 154 members out of 174 rating the stock outperform, and 20 members rating it underperform. Among 45 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 40 give Thoratec a green thumbs-up, and five give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Thoratec is outperform, with an average price target of $40.00.