Builders FirstSource (Nasdaq: BLDR) is expected to report Q3 earnings on Oct. 18. 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 Builders FirstSource's revenues will grow 30.1% and EPS will remain in the red.

The average estimate for revenue is $282.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.05.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Builders FirstSource logged revenue of $271.9 million. GAAP reported sales were 32% higher than the prior-year quarter's $206.4 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 -$0.07. GAAP EPS were -$0.13 for Q2 against -$0.16 per share for the prior-year quarter.

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 19.7%, 100 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -0.5%, 250 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -4.4%, 310 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $1.01 billion. The average EPS estimate is -$0.30.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 225 members out of 274 rating the stock outperform, and 49 members rating it underperform. Among 71 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 58 give Builders FirstSource 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 Builders FirstSource is buy, with an average price target of $4.00.