Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A) reported earnings on Nov. 19. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Oct. 31 (Q4), Agilent Technologies met expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

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

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

Revenue details
 Agilent Technologies booked revenue of $1.77 billion. The 15 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ wanted to see sales of $1.76 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 2.3% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.73 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 $0.86. The 17 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.80 per share. GAAP EPS of $1.20 for Q4 were 46% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.82 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 52.2%, 110 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 15.7%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 24.1%, 740 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.69 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.66.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $7.12 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.04.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 508 members out of 578 rating the stock outperform, and 70 members rating it underperform. Among 120 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 112 give Agilent Technologies 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 Agilent Technologies is buy, with an average price target of $47.70.