Flowers Foods (NYSE: FLO) is expected to report Q1 earnings on May 16. 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 Flowers Foods's revenues will increase 21.7% and EPS will grow 46.4%.

The average estimate for revenue is $1.09 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.41.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Flowers Foods tallied revenue of $749.4 million. GAAP reported sales were 15% higher than the prior-year quarter's $653.6 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 $0.28. GAAP EPS of $0.27 for Q4 were 59% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.17 per share.

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 47.9%, 240 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 7.7%, 290 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.1%, 160 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $3.60 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.35.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 354 members out of 365 rating the stock outperform, and 11 members rating it underperform. Among 110 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 108 give Flowers Foods a green thumbs-up, and two give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Flowers Foods is outperform, with an average price target of $24.56.

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