General Motors (NYSE: GM) is expected to report Q3 earnings on Oct. 31. 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 General Motors's revenues will contract -2.4% and EPS will wither -42.9%.

The average estimate for revenue is $35.83 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.60.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, General Motors tallied revenue of $37.61 billion. GAAP reported sales were 4.5% lower than the prior-year quarter's $39.37 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 $0.90. GAAP EPS of $0.90 for Q2 were 42% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.54 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 12.4%, 130 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 4.8%, 140 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 4.9%, 270 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $151.01 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.14.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 819 members out of 1,036 rating the stock outperform, and 217 members rating it underperform. Among 206 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 152 give General Motors a green thumbs-up, and 54 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on General Motors is outperform, with an average price target of $33.44.

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