Valero Energy (NYSE: VLO) is expected to report Q3 earnings on Oct. 30. 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 Valero Energy's revenues will expand 0.7% and EPS will decrease -17.1%.

The average estimate for revenue is $33.94 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.75.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Valero Energy booked revenue of $34.66 billion. GAAP reported sales were 11% higher than the prior-year quarter's $31.07 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, EPS came in at $1.50. GAAP EPS of $1.50 for Q2 were 15% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.30 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 5.6%, 30 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 4.0%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 2.4%, about the same as the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $133.45 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.46.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 4,354 members out of 4,542 rating the stock outperform, and 188 members rating it underperform. Among 1,090 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 1,059 give Valero Energy a green thumbs-up, and 31 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Valero Energy is outperform, with an average price target of $29.44.

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