ArthroCare (Nasdaq: ARTC) is expected to report Q2 earnings around Aug. 6. 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 ArthroCare's revenues will grow 2.1% and EPS will wither -17.1%.

The average estimate for revenue is $93.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.34.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, ArthroCare reported revenue of $92.3 million. GAAP reported sales were 0.6% lower than the prior-year quarter's $92.9 million.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures are normalized by S&P Capital IQ and may vary to maintain comparability with normalized estimates.

EPS details
 Last quarter, non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.46. GAAP EPS of $0.30 for Q1 were 17% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.36 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures are normalized by S&P Capital IQ and may vary to maintain comparability with normalized estimates.

Recent performance
 For the preceding quarter, gross margin was 69.3%, 200 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 18.8%, 120 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 12.1%, 190 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $377.6 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.43.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 132 members out of 268 rating the stock outperform, and 136 members rating it underperform. Among 95 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 43 give ArthroCare a green thumbs-up, and 52 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on ArthroCare is buy, with an average price target of $39.50.

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