Otter Tail (Nasdaq: OTTR) reported earnings on Nov. 5. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

Gross margins shrank, operating margins grew, net margins dropped.

Revenue details
 Otter Tail logged revenue of $277.1 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected to see sales of $266.2 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 12% lower than the prior-year quarter's $315.8 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 $0.35. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.35 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.05 for Q3 were 71% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.17 per share. (The prior-year quarter included -$0.01 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 15.0%, 940 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 9.3%, 390 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 0.7%, 130 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $208.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.30.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $1.06 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.18.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 957 members out of 986 rating the stock outperform, and 29 members rating it underperform. Among 299 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 293 give Otter Tail a green thumbs-up, and six give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Otter Tail is hold, with an average price target of $23.83.

Can your portfolio provide you with enough income to last through retirement? You'll need more than Otter Tail. Learn how to maximize your investment income and get "The 3 DOW Stocks Dividend Investors Need." Click here for instant access to this free report.