Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings (NYSE: CCO) reported earnings on Nov. 2. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Sep. 30 (Q3), Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings 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 significantly. The profit was a surprise, as analysts had predicted a loss.

Margins increased across the board.

Revenue details
 Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings booked revenue of $731.1 million. The five analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted sales of $737.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 2.3% lower than the prior-year quarter's $748.5 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 $0.05. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast -$0.04 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.05 for Q3 were 400% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.01 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 46.2%, 70 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 16.0%, 650 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.4%, 200 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $811.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.05.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $2.98 billion. The average EPS estimate is -$0.13.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 83 members out of 115 rating the stock outperform, and 32 members rating it underperform. Among 39 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 31 give Clear Channel Outdoor 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 Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings is hold, with an average price target of $5.57.