Ascena Retail Group (Nasdaq: ASNA) is expected to report Q4 earnings around Sep. 15. 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 Ascena Retail Group's revenues will expand 7.4% and EPS will increase 16.7%.

The average estimate for revenue is $779.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.28.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Ascena Retail Group reported revenue of $783.3 million. GAAP reported sales were 8.4% higher than the prior-year quarter's $722.8 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 $0.34. GAAP EPS of $0.31 for Q3 were 3.1% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.32 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 43.4%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 11.0%, 120 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 6.3%, 90 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $3.20 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.34.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 238 members out of 266 rating the stock outperform, and 28 members rating it underperform. Among 75 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 71 give Ascena Retail Group a green thumbs-up, and four give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Ascena Retail Group is outperform, with an average price target of $23.94.

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