Astec Industries (Nasdaq: ASTE) is expected to report Q3 earnings around Oct. 19. 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 Astec Industries's revenues will expand 13.0% and EPS will increase 23.5%.

The average estimate for revenue is $242.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.42.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Astec Industries tallied revenue of $253.9 million. GAAP reported sales were 2.5% higher than the prior-year quarter's $247.8 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, EPS came in at $0.45. GAAP EPS of $0.45 for Q2 were 26% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.61 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 22.1%, 290 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 6.2%, 320 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 4.1%, 160 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $1.04 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.94.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 270 members out of 281 rating the stock outperform, and 11 members rating it underperform. Among 106 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 104 give Astec Industries a green thumbs-up, and two give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Astec Industries is hold, with an average price target of $40.78.