Legg Mason (NYSE: LM) is expected to report Q4 earnings on April 30. 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 Legg Mason's revenues will decrease -0.4% and EPS will expand 16.7%.

The average estimate for revenue is $645.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.63.

Revenue details
Last quarter, Legg Mason recorded revenue of $673.9 million. GAAP reported sales were 7.5% higher than the prior-year quarter's $627.0 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 $0.70. GAAP EPS were -$3.45 for Q3 compared to $0.20 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 33.3%, 250 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 15.3%, 30 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -67.3%, much worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $2.59 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.65.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 797 members out of 874 rating the stock outperform, and 77 members rating it underperform. Among 320 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 300 give Legg Mason a green thumbs-up, and 20 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Legg Mason is hold, with an average price target of $26.93.

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