Packaging Corp. of America (NYSE: PKG) is expected to report Q3 earnings on Oct. 15. 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 Packaging Corp. of America's revenues will expand 7.1% and EPS will expand 27.9%.

The average estimate for revenue is $718.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.55.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Packaging Corp. of America notched revenue of $712.5 million. GAAP reported sales were 7.1% higher than the prior-year quarter's $665.5 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 $0.49. GAAP EPS of $0.46 for Q2 were 18% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.39 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 22.2%, 160 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 11.8%, 160 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 6.3%, 40 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $2.81 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.03.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 180 members out of 195 rating the stock outperform, and 15 members rating it underperform. Among 57 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 55 give Packaging Corp. of America a green thumbs-up, and two give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Packaging Corp. of America is outperform, with an average price target of $32.27.

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