Dean Foods (NYSE: DF) is expected to report Q4 earnings around Feb. 15. 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 Dean Foods's revenues will grow 2.3% and EPS will grow 11.1%.

The average estimate for revenue is $3.37 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.30.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Dean Foods recorded revenue of $3.14 billion. GAAP reported sales were 7.8% lower than the prior-year quarter's $3.41 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 $0.33. GAAP EPS were $0.20 for Q3 against -$8.39 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 24.9%, 320 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 4.2%, 150 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.2%, 4,640 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $12.86 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.29.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 450 members out of 499 rating the stock outperform, and 49 members rating it underperform. Among 120 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 106 give Dean Foods a green thumbs-up, and 14 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Dean Foods is outperform, with an average price target of $18.56.

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