Tesla Motors (Nasdaq: TSLA) reported earnings on Nov. 5. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue dropped and GAAP loss per share expanded.

Margins dropped across the board.

Revenue details
Tesla Motors chalked up revenue of $50.1 million. The 13 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $48.6 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 13% lower than the prior-year quarter's $57.7 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 -$0.92. The 11 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast -$0.91 per share. GAAP EPS were -$1.05 for Q3 compared to -$0.63 per share for the prior-year quarter.

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 -17.5%, 4,740 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -216.5%, 10,470 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -221.1%, 10,820 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $299.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.47.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $399.9 million. The average EPS estimate is -$3.00.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 564 members out of 968 rating the stock outperform, and 404 members rating it underperform. Among 238 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 85 give Tesla Motors a green thumbs-up, and 153 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Tesla Motors is outperform, with an average price target of $36.54.

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