Alon USA Energy (NYSE: ALJ) is expected to report Q2 earnings on Aug. 8. 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 Alon USA Energy's revenues will improve 28.9% and EPS will expand 126.7%.

The average estimate for revenue is $2.06 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.68.

Revenue details
Last quarter, Alon USA Energy recorded revenue of $1.79 billion. GAAP reported sales were 8.5% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.64 billion.

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 $0.15. GAAP EPS were -$0.52 for Q1 against $0.22 per share for the prior-year quarter.

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 5.7%, 240 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -0.6%, 510 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -1.7%, 250 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
The full year's average estimate for revenue is $7.53 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.67.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 372 members out of 390 rating the stock outperform, and 18 members rating it underperform. Among 90 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 84 give Alon USA Energy a green thumbs-up, and six give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Alon USA Energy is hold, with an average price target of $10.25.