National Healthcare (AMEX: NHC) reported earnings on Oct. 31. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins dropped, operating margins dropped, net margins increased.

Revenue details
 National Healthcare booked revenue of $189.4 million. The one analyst polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted sales of $184.0 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 1.5% lower than the prior-year quarter's $192.3 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 $1.04. The one earnings estimate compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.63 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.04 for Q3 were 1.0% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.05 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 43.6%, 80 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 8.9%, 50 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 9.1%, 20 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $182.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.63.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $744.4 million. The average EPS estimate is $2.67.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 123 members out of 129 rating the stock outperform, and six members rating it underperform. Among 30 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 30 give National Healthcare a green thumbs-up, and give it a red thumbs-down.

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