Ship Finance International (NYSE: SFL) is expected to report Q4 earnings around Feb. 20. 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 Ship Finance International's revenues will increase 31.9% and EPS will compress -19.5%.

The average estimate for revenue is $100.4 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.33.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Ship Finance International logged revenue of $74.3 million. GAAP reported sales were 15% lower than the prior-year quarter's $74.8 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, EPS came in at $0.44. GAAP EPS of $0.44 for Q3 were 26% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.35 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 60.2%, 1,330 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 36.2%, 1,670 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 54.2%, 1,750 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $348.6 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.67.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 507 members out of 533 rating the stock outperform, and 26 members rating it underperform. Among 111 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 104 give Ship Finance International 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 Ship Finance International is outperform, with an average price target of $18.10.

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