PMC-Sierra (Nasdaq: PMCS) is expected to report Q4 earnings on Jan. 31. 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 PMC-Sierra's revenues will decrease -17.1% and EPS will drop -23.1%.

The average estimate for revenue is $126.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.10.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, PMC-Sierra recorded revenue of $131.7 million. GAAP reported sales were 24% lower than the prior-year quarter's $173.3 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, non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.10. GAAP EPS were -$1.31 for Q3 against $0.20 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 70.4%, 80 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -1.7%, 1,320 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -208.3%, 23,560 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $528.1 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.34.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 212 members out of 231 rating the stock outperform, and 19 members rating it underperform. Among 50 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 47 give PMC-Sierra 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 PMC-Sierra is hold, with an average price target of $6.72.

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