CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) is expected to report Q4 earnings on Feb. 13. 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 CenturyLink's revenues will drop -1.4% and EPS will increase 21.8%.

The average estimate for revenue is $4.59 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.67.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, CenturyLink notched revenue of $4.57 billion. GAAP reported sales were 0.5% lower than the prior-year quarter's $4.60 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 $0.66. GAAP EPS of $0.43 for Q3 were 95% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.22 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 57.6%, 30 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 16.5%, 230 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.9%, 290 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $18.39 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.67.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 521 members out of 566 rating the stock outperform, and 45 members rating it underperform. Among 173 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 158 give CenturyLink a green thumbs-up, and 15 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on CenturyLink is outperform, with an average price target of $44.40.

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