LHC Group (Nasdaq: LHCG) reported earnings on Nov. 7. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
 LHC Group chalked up revenue of $158.9 million. The eight analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted a top line of $159.9 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 3.6% higher than the prior-year quarter's $153.4 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 $0.38. The seven earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.37 per share. GAAP EPS were $0.36 for Q3 against -$2.08 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 42.6%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 7.7%, 140 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 4.0%, 2,870 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $162.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.40.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $639.5 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.55.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 228 members out of 236 rating the stock outperform, and eight members rating it underperform. Among 52 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 50 give LHC Group a green thumbs-up, and two give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on LHC Group is outperform, with an average price target of $19.07.

Seth Jayson had no position in any company mentioned here at the time of publication. You can view his stock holdings here. He is co-advisor of Motley Fool Hidden Gems, which provides new small-cap ideas every month, backed by a real-money portfolio. The Motley Fool has no positions in the stocks mentioned above. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.