Arch Coal (NYSE: ACI) is expected to report Q2 earnings on July 27. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:

The 10-second takeaway
Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict Arch Coal's revenues will grow 2.4% and EPS will shrink to a loss.

The average estimate for revenue is $1.01 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.17.

Revenue details
Last quarter, Arch Coal reported revenue of $1.04 billion. GAAP reported sales were 19% higher than the prior-year quarter's $872.9 million.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
Last quarter, non-GAAP EPS came in at -$0.04. GAAP EPS of $0.01 for Q1 were 97% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.34 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

Recent performance
For the preceding quarter, gross margin was 18.2%, 690 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 5.2%, 650 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 0.1%, 630 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
The full year's average estimate for revenue is $4.07 billion. The average EPS estimate is -$0.52.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,519 members out of 1,599 rating the stock outperform, and 80 members rating it underperform. Among 309 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 292 give Arch Coal a green thumbs-up, and 17 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Arch Coal is hold, with an average price target of $16.55.

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