AK Steel Holding (NYSE: AKS) is expected to report Q3 earnings on Oct. 23. 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 AK Steel Holding's revenues will wane -7.5% and EPS will shrink to a loss.

The average estimate for revenue is $1.47 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.42.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, AK Steel Holding booked revenue of $1.54 billion. GAAP reported sales were 14% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.79 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 $0.10. GAAP EPS were -$6.55 for Q2 against $0.30 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 9.5%, 70 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 3.7%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -47.1%, 4,890 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $6.01 billion. The average EPS estimate is -$0.58.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 846 members out of 936 rating the stock outperform, and 90 members rating it underperform. Among 179 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 157 give AK Steel Holding a green thumbs-up, and 22 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on AK Steel Holding is hold, with an average price target of $7.48.

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