Acme Packet (Nasdaq: APKT) is expected to report Q3 earnings on Oct. 25. 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 Acme Packet's revenues will contract -9.1% and EPS will compress -66.7%.

The average estimate for revenue is $64.2 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.07.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Acme Packet chalked up revenue of $67.6 million. GAAP reported sales were 15% lower than the prior-year quarter's $79.7 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 $0.13. GAAP EPS shrank to zero from the prior-year quarter's $0.20.

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 80.1%, 250 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -0.2%, 2,850 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -0.2%, 1,780 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $271.4 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.47.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 484 members out of 558 rating the stock outperform, and 74 members rating it underperform. Among 133 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 120 give Acme Packet a green thumbs-up, and 13 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Acme Packet is hold, with an average price target of $30.19.

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