BP (NYSE: BP) 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 BP's revenues will decrease -26.0% and EPS will compress -17.4%.

The average estimate for revenue is $70.58 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.33.

Revenue details
Last quarter, BP tallied revenue of $93.34 billion. GAAP reported sales were 7.9% lower than the prior-year quarter's $101.36 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 $1.16. GAAP EPS were -$0.07 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 8.7%, 560 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 1.8%, 600 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -1.5%, 710 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $352.33 billion. The average EPS estimate is $5.42.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 4,915 members out of 5,237 rating the stock outperform, and 322 members rating it underperform. Among 1,102 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 1,052 give BP a green thumbs-up, and 50 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on BP is outperform, with an average price target of $49.82.

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