Air Products & Chemicals (NYSE: APD) is expected to report Q4 earnings on Oct. 19. 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 Air Products & Chemicals's revenues will compress -2.3% and EPS will contract -4.6%.

The average estimate for revenue is $2.55 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.44.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Air Products & Chemicals logged revenue of $2.34 billion. GAAP reported sales were 5.3% lower than the prior-year quarter's $2.47 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 $1.41. GAAP EPS of $2.25 for Q3 were 49% higher 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 27.7%, 160 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 16.9%, 140 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 20.7%, 750 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $9.60 billion. The average EPS estimate is $5.43.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 675 members out of 693 rating the stock outperform, and 18 members rating it underperform. Among 166 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 161 give Air Products & Chemicals a green thumbs-up, and five give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Air Products & Chemicals is outperform, with an average price target of $98.75.

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