Piedmont Natural Gas (NYSE: PNY) is expected to report Q1 earnings around Jan. 24. 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 Piedmont Natural Gas's revenues will increase 6.0% and EPS will grow 9.5%.

The average estimate for revenue is $500.2 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.15.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Piedmont Natural Gas logged revenue of $181.4 million. GAAP reported sales were 5.5% lower than the prior-year quarter's $192.0 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, EPS came in at -$0.03. GAAP EPS were -$0.03 for Q4 compared to -$0.13 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 17.8%, 390 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -1.4%, 280 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -1.1%, 390 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $1.21 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.75.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 173 members out of 189 rating the stock outperform, and 16 members rating it underperform. Among 57 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 54 give Piedmont Natural Gas a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Piedmont Natural Gas is hold, with an average price target of $30.83.

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