Plains Exploration & Production (NYSE: PXP) is expected to report Q4 earnings around 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 Plains Exploration & Production's revenues will increase 47.9% and EPS will grow 175.0%.

The average estimate for revenue is $765.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.55.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Plains Exploration & Production reported revenue of $605.1 million. GAAP reported sales were 21% higher than the prior-year quarter's $501.8 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 $0.39. GAAP EPS were -$0.41 for Q3 compared to -$0.62 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 73.5%, about the same as the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 6.3%, 5,230 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -8.8%, 880 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $2.49 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.96.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 388 members out of 402 rating the stock outperform, and 14 members rating it underperform. Among 89 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 86 give Plains Exploration & Production 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 Plains Exploration & Production is hold, with an average price target of $52.63.

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