Frontier Communications (Nasdaq: FTR) reported earnings on Nov. 6. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue contracted slightly and GAAP earnings per share increased significantly.

Margins increased across the board.

Revenue details
 Frontier Communications booked revenue of $1.25 billion. The 12 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected a top line of $1.24 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 3.0% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.29 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 $0.07. The 13 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated $0.07 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.07 for Q3 were 250% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.02 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 91.9%, 120 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 22.3%, 280 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.3%, 370 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.23 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.07.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $4.99 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.27.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 977 members out of 1,085 rating the stock outperform, and 108 members rating it underperform. Among 204 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 180 give Frontier Communications a green thumbs-up, and 24 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Frontier Communications is outperform, with an average price target of $5.16.

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