AK Steel Holding (NYSE: AKS) 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 AK Steel Holding's revenues will contract -6.0% and EPS will remain in the red.

The average estimate for revenue is $1.42 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.36.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, AK Steel Holding recorded revenue of $1.46 billion. GAAP reported sales were 7.7% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.59 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 -$0.25. GAAP EPS were -$0.55 for Q3 versus -$0.03 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 5.4%, 110 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -0.8%, 150 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -4.2%, 400 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $5.93 billion. The average EPS estimate is -$0.63.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 855 members out of 946 rating the stock outperform, and 91 members rating it underperform. Among 195 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 171 give AK Steel Holding 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 AK Steel Holding is hold, with an average price target of $6.44.

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