Ship Finance International (NYSE: SFL) is expected to report Q2 earnings around Aug. 22. 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 Ship Finance International's revenues will improve 51.1% and EPS will wither -4.9%.

The average estimate for revenue is $111.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.39.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Ship Finance International recorded revenue of $84.1 million. GAAP reported sales were 21% higher than the prior-year quarter's $69.8 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 $0.61. GAAP EPS of $0.49 for Q1 were 20% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.41 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 72.6%, 190 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 53.0%, 210 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 46.3%, 30 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $397.9 million. The average EPS estimate is $1.63.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 500 members out of 523 rating the stock outperform, and 23 members rating it underperform. Among 105 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 99 give Ship Finance International a green thumbs-up, and six give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Ship Finance International is outperform, with an average price target of $15.86.

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