Health Management Associates (NYSE: HMA) is expected to report Q3 earnings on Oct. 22. 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 Health Management Associates's revenues will grow 17.6% and EPS will grow 17.6%.

The average estimate for revenue is $1.65 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.20.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Health Management Associates tallied revenue of $1.69 billion. GAAP reported sales were 21% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.40 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 $0.21. GAAP EPS of $0.15 for Q2 were 21% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.19 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 48.3%, 80 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 8.8%, 120 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.2%, 130 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $6.72 billion. The average EPS estimate is $0.86.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 213 members out of 251 rating the stock outperform, and 38 members rating it underperform. Among 69 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 65 give Health Management Associates 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 Health Management Associates is outperform, with an average price target of $10.00.