Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) is expected to report Q4 earnings on Jan. 29. 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 Eli Lilly's revenues will wane -3.8% and EPS will wane -9.2%.

The average estimate for revenue is $5.81 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.79.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Eli Lilly logged revenue of $5.44 billion. GAAP reported sales were 11% lower than the prior-year quarter's $6.15 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 $0.79. GAAP EPS of $1.18 for Q3 were 6.3% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.11 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 77.9%, 30 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 20.9%, 530 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 24.4%, 430 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $22.46 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.33.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,258 members out of 1,354 rating the stock outperform, and 96 members rating it underperform. Among 429 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 405 give Eli Lilly a green thumbs-up, and 24 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Eli Lilly is hold, with an average price target of $44.47.

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