Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (NYSE: KMP) is expected to report Q4 earnings around Jan. 16. 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 Kinder Morgan Energy Partners's revenues will expand 24.1% and EPS will grow 16.4%.

The average estimate for revenue is $2.49 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.64.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Kinder Morgan Energy Partners recorded revenue of $2.34 billion. GAAP reported sales were 11% higher than the prior-year quarter's $2.11 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 $0.57. GAAP EPS were -$0.06 for Q3 versus -$0.25 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 46.1%, 830 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 25.3%, 150 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 16.2%, 600 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $8.55 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.09.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,474 members out of 1,528 rating the stock outperform, and 54 members rating it underperform. Among 442 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 425 give Kinder Morgan Energy Partners a green thumbs-up, and 17 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Kinder Morgan Energy Partners is outperform, with an average price target of $88.08.

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