Vulcan Materials (NYSE: VMC) is expected to report Q3 earnings around Nov. 2. 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 Vulcan Materials's revenues will grow 3.7% and EPS will decrease -238.5%.

The average estimate for revenue is $788.6 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.18.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Vulcan Materials notched revenue of $694.1 million. GAAP reported sales were 1.1% lower than the prior-year quarter's $702.0 million.

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 -$0.02. GAAP EPS were -$0.14 for Q2 compared to -$0.06 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 15.3%, 90 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 6.2%, 300 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -2.6%, 140 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $2.64 billion. The average EPS estimate is -$0.38.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 445 members out of 496 rating the stock outperform, and 51 members rating it underperform. Among 150 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 135 give Vulcan Materials a green thumbs-up, and 15 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Vulcan Materials is hold, with an average price target of $44.30.