Nucor (NYSE: NUE) 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 Nucor's revenues will drop -7.5% and EPS will contract -28.1%.

The average estimate for revenue is $4.86 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.41.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Nucor chalked up revenue of $5.10 billion. GAAP reported sales were 0.1% lower than the prior-year quarter's $5.11 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 $0.46. GAAP EPS of $0.35 for Q2 were 63% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.94 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 7.8%, 490 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 5.6%, 460 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.2%, 370 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $19.85 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.74.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 2,127 members out of 2,211 rating the stock outperform, and 84 members rating it underperform. Among 531 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 512 give Nucor a green thumbs-up, and 19 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Nucor is outperform, with an average price target of $45.79.

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