Assisted Living Concepts (NYSE: ALC) is expected to report Q4 earnings around March 9. 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 Assisted Living Concepts's revenues will decrease -4.6% and EPS will shrink to a loss.

The average estimate for revenue is $56.1 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.02.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Assisted Living Concepts booked revenue of $55.6 million. GAAP reported sales were 5.1% lower than the prior-year quarter's $58.6 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 -$0.04. GAAP EPS were -$0.18 for Q3 against $0.25 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 18.8%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -1.6%, much worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -7.3%, much worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $227.6 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.41.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 129 members out of 139 rating the stock outperform, and 10 members rating it underperform. Among 30 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 29 give Assisted Living Concepts a green thumbs-up, and one give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Assisted Living Concepts is hold, with an average price target of $6.00.

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