Waste Management (NYSE: WM) 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 Waste Management's revenues will drop -0.5% and EPS will wane -4.8%.

The average estimate for revenue is $3.50 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.60.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Waste Management reported revenue of $3.46 billion. GAAP reported sales were 3.3% higher than the prior-year quarter's $3.35 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 $0.52. GAAP EPS of $0.45 for Q2 were 10% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.50 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 34.7%, 140 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 14.5%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 6.0%, 110 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $13.70 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.12.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 2,610 members out of 2,667 rating the stock outperform, and 57 members rating it underperform. Among 635 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 622 give Waste Management a green thumbs-up, and 13 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Waste Management is hold, with an average price target of $34.33.

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