Apollo Group (Nasdaq: APOL) is expected to report Q4 earnings on Oct. 16. 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 Apollo Group's revenues will decrease -10.1% and EPS will shrink -52.0%.

The average estimate for revenue is $1.01 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.49.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Apollo Group booked revenue of $1.13 billion. GAAP reported sales were 8.5% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.24 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 $1.20. GAAP EPS of $1.13 for Q3 were 25% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.51 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 58.4%, 450 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 21.0%, 720 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 11.9%, 530 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $4.29 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.58.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 808 members out of 953 rating the stock outperform, and 145 members rating it underperform. Among 234 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 180 give Apollo Group a green thumbs-up, and 54 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Apollo Group is outperform, with an average price target of $47.93.