Aetna (NYSE: AET) is expected to report Q2 earnings on July 31. 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 Aetna's revenues will improve 5.9% and EPS will wither -7.4%.

The average estimate for revenue is $8.82 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.25.

Revenue details
Last quarter, Aetna reported revenue of $8.86 billion. GAAP reported sales were 6.3% higher than the prior-year quarter's $8.39 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 $1.34. GAAP EPS of $1.43 for Q1 were 4.7% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.50 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 28.6%, 190 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 9.5%, 200 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.7%, 130 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $35.54 billion. The average EPS estimate is $5.05.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 581 members out of 629 rating the stock outperform, and 48 members rating it underperform. Among 177 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 164 give Aetna a green thumbs-up, and 13 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Aetna is outperform, with an average price target of $53.86.