Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) is expected to report Q4 earnings on Jan. 22. 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 Verizon Communications's revenues will grow 4.5% and EPS will expand 3.8%.

The average estimate for revenue is $29.72 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.54.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Verizon Communications notched revenue of $29.01 billion. GAAP reported sales were 3.9% higher than the prior-year quarter's $27.91 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 $0.64. GAAP EPS of $0.56 for Q3 were 14% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.49 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 62.1%, 290 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 18.9%, 230 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.5%, 60 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $115.46 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.41.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 4,621 members out of 4,902 rating the stock outperform, and 281 members rating it underperform. Among 1,073 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 1,022 give Verizon Communications a green thumbs-up, and 51 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Verizon Communications is outperform, with an average price target of $44.64.

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