WellPoint (NYSE: WLP) is expected to report Q4 earnings on Jan. 23. 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 WellPoint's revenues will expand 0.8% and EPS will compress -4.0%.

The average estimate for revenue is $15.29 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.95.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, WellPoint recorded revenue of $15.13 billion. GAAP reported sales were 0.3% lower than the prior-year quarter's $15.40 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 $2.09. GAAP EPS of $2.15 for Q3 were 13% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.90 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 21.9%, 20 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 7.6%, 10 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 4.5%, 10 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $60.88 billion. The average EPS estimate is $7.41.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 951 members out of 1,007 rating the stock outperform, and 56 members rating it underperform. Among 340 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 332 give WellPoint a green thumbs-up, and eight give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on WellPoint is outperform, with an average price target of $71.00.

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