GeoEye (Nasdaq: GEOY) is expected to report Q2 earnings around Aug. 6. 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 GeoEye's revenue will increase 2.6% and EPS will expand 12.2%.

The average estimate for revenue is $89.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.55.

Revenue details
Last quarter, GeoEye chalked up revenue of $89.3 million. GAAP reported sales were 3.1% higher than the prior-year quarter's $86.6 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, EPS came in at $0.58. GAAP EPS of $0.58 for Q1 were 32% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.44 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 65.9%, 200 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 28.8%, 90 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 17.6%, 350 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
The full year's average estimate for revenue is $366.8 million. The average EPS estimate is $2.27.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 484 members out of 499 rating the stock outperform, and 15 members rating it underperform. Among 120 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 116 give GeoEye a green thumbs-up, and four give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on GeoEye is hold, with an average price target of $28.33.

Over the decades, small-cap stocks like GeoEye have provided market-beating returns, provided they're value-priced and have solid businesses. Read about a pair of companies with a lock on their markets in "Too Small to Fail: 2 Small Caps the Government Won't Let Go Broke." Click here for instant access to this free report.