Focus Media Holding (Nasdaq: FMCN) reported earnings on Nov. 27. Here are the numbers you need to know.

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

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

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

Revenue details
 Focus Media Holding reported revenue of $256.3 million. The three analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ hoped for revenue of $257.1 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 22% higher than the prior-year quarter's $210.7 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 $0.71. The four earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.69 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.48 for Q3 were 6.7% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.45 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 67.7%, 340 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 38.7%, 440 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 25.2%, 430 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $294.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.85.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $972.8 million. The average EPS estimate is $2.27.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,011 members out of 1,124 rating the stock outperform, and 113 members rating it underperform. Among 271 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 220 give Focus Media Holding a green thumbs-up, and 51 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Focus Media Holding is buy, with an average price target of $39.66.

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