PetroQuest Energy (NYSE: PQ) is expected to report Q4 earnings on Feb. 28. 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 PetroQuest Energy's revenues will grow 1.0% and EPS will compress -42.9%.

The average estimate for revenue is $38.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.04.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, PetroQuest Energy chalked up revenue of $34.0 million. GAAP reported sales were 13% lower than the prior-year quarter's $39.0 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 -$0.05. GAAP EPS were -$0.62 for Q3 compared to $0.06 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 69.0%, 70 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 4.6%, 1,360 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -110.0%, 12,280 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $143.6 million. The average EPS estimate is -$0.02.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 427 members out of 454 rating the stock outperform, and 27 members rating it underperform. Among 107 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 100 give PetroQuest Energy 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 PetroQuest Energy is outperform, with an average price target of $8.14.

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