Dean Foods (NYSE: DF) is expected to report Q1 earnings around May 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 Dean Foods's revenues will wane -15.9% and EPS will wither -16.1%.

The average estimate for revenue is $2.70 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.26.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Dean Foods tallied revenue of $3.42 billion. GAAP reported sales were 62% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.88 billion.

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 $0.40. GAAP EPS were $0.20 for Q4 versus -$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 23.9%, 420 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 3.3%, 290 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.2%, 170 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $10.71 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.09.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 449 members out of 499 rating the stock outperform, and 50 members rating it underperform. Among 119 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 107 give Dean Foods a green thumbs-up, and 12 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Dean Foods is outperform, with an average price target of $20.00.

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