Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) is expected to report Q3 earnings around Oct. 23. 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 Delta Air Lines's revenues will grow 1.8% and EPS will increase 2.2%.

The average estimate for revenue is $9.99 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.93.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Delta Air Lines recorded revenue of $9.73 billion. GAAP reported sales were 6.3% higher than the prior-year quarter's $9.15 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 $0.69. GAAP EPS were -$0.20 for Q2 versus $0.23 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 21.2%, 80 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 9.1%, 220 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -1.7%, 390 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $36.64 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.98.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 544 members out of 933 rating the stock outperform, and 389 members rating it underperform. Among 207 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 112 give Delta Air Lines a green thumbs-up, and 95 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Delta Air Lines is outperform, with an average price target of $15.93.