Health Management Associates (NYSE: HMA) is expected to report Q4 earnings on Feb. 14. 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 Health Management Associates's revenues will increase 5.6% and EPS will wane -19.2%.

The average estimate for revenue is $1.67 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.21.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Health Management Associates reported revenue of $1.66 billion. GAAP reported sales were 19% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.40 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 $0.18. GAAP EPS of $0.16 for Q3 were 5.9% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.17 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 48.7%, 90 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 8.7%, 10 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.5%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $6.71 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.82.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 215 members out of 256 rating the stock outperform, and 41 members rating it underperform. Among 84 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 77 give Health Management Associates a green thumbs-up, and seven give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Health Management Associates is outperform, with an average price target of $9.53.

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