Steel Dynamics (Nasdaq: STLD) is expected to report Q4 earnings on Jan. 28. 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 Steel Dynamics's revenues will compress -8.8% and EPS will shrink 0.0%.

The average estimate for revenue is $1.70 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.14.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Steel Dynamics logged revenue of $1.69 billion. GAAP reported sales were 17% lower than the prior-year quarter's $2.04 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 $0.08. GAAP EPS of $0.06 for Q3 were 68% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.19 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 9.2%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 4.8%, 50 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 0.8%, 130 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $7.28 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.72.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 929 members out of 967 rating the stock outperform, and 38 members rating it underperform. Among 208 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 199 give Steel Dynamics a green thumbs-up, and nine give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Steel Dynamics is outperform, with an average price target of $15.81.

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