WellCare Health Plans (NYSE: WCG) 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 WellCare Health Plans's revenues will increase 18.1% and EPS will contract -38.6%.

The average estimate for revenue is $1.89 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.32.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, WellCare Health Plans logged revenue of $1.82 billion. GAAP reported sales were 18% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.54 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 $1.05. GAAP EPS of $0.87 for Q3 were 57% lower than the prior-year quarter's $2.03 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 14.8%, 650 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 3.5%, 580 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.1%, 360 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $7.30 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.95.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 448 members out of 490 rating the stock outperform, and 42 members rating it underperform. Among 137 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 129 give WellCare Health Plans a green thumbs-up, and eight give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on WellCare Health Plans is outperform, with an average price target of $72.91.

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