Life Technologies (Nasdaq: LIFE) is expected to report Q2 earnings around Aug. 1. 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 Life Technologies's revenues will increase 0.3% and EPS will contract 0.0%.

The average estimate for revenue is $952.1 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.96.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Life Technologies booked revenue of $962.5 million. GAAP reported sales were 2.5% higher than the prior-year quarter's $939.1 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 $1.07. GAAP EPS of $0.69 for Q1 were 4.2% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.72 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 66.1%, 50 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 21.8%, 70 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 12.6%, 150 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $3.87 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.20.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 209 members out of 227 rating the stock outperform, and 18 members rating it underperform. Among 56 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 53 give Life Technologies a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Life Technologies is hold, with an average price target of $63.83.

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