L-3 Communications Holdings (NYSE: LLL) is expected to report Q3 earnings on Oct. 30. 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 L-3 Communications Holdings's revenues will shrink -14.2% and EPS will drop -16.5%.

The average estimate for revenue is $3.25 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.87.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, L-3 Communications Holdings booked revenue of $3.14 billion. GAAP reported sales were 5.5% lower than the prior-year quarter's $3.77 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 $1.92. GAAP EPS of $2.08 for Q2 were 8.0% lower than the prior-year quarter's $2.26 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 10.5%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 10.5%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.8%, 70 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $13.05 billion. The average EPS estimate is $7.83.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 897 members out of 933 rating the stock outperform, and 36 members rating it underperform. Among 224 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 215 give L-3 Communications Holdings a green thumbs-up, and nine give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on L-3 Communications Holdings is hold, with an average price target of $76.58.

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