Gentiva Health Services (Nasdaq: GTIV) is expected to report Q3 earnings on Nov. 1. 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 Gentiva Health Services's revenues will decrease -4.7% and EPS will grow 3.7%.

The average estimate for revenue is $428.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.28.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Gentiva Health Services tallied revenue of $427.7 million. GAAP reported sales were 4.7% lower than the prior-year quarter's $448.7 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 $0.35. GAAP EPS of $0.46 for Q2 were 171% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.17 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 47.9%, 10 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 9.6%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 3.3%, 210 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $1.73 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.23.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 278 members out of 298 rating the stock outperform, and 20 members rating it underperform. Among 90 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 85 give Gentiva Health Services 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 Gentiva Health Services is hold, with an average price target of $7.90.