ViroPharma (Nasdaq: VPHM) is expected to report Q4 earnings around Feb. 24. 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 ViroPharma's revenues will compress -29.4% and EPS will wither -76.9%.

The average estimate for revenue is $102.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.12.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, ViroPharma recorded revenue of $91.0 million. GAAP reported sales were 36% lower than the prior-year quarter's $143.0 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, non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.10. GAAP EPS were -$0.07 for Q3 compared to $0.35 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 76.3%, 960 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -4.6%, 4,590 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -5.0%, 2,480 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $427.3 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.70.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,197 members out of 1,238 rating the stock outperform, and 41 members rating it underperform. Among 330 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 321 give ViroPharma a green thumbs-up, and nine give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on ViroPharma is outperform, with an average price target of $31.92.