Dean Foods (NYSE: DF) is expected to report Q3 earnings around Nov. 8. 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 Dean Foods's revenues will compress -4.3% and EPS will increase 55.6%.

The average estimate for revenue is $3.26 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.28.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Dean Foods reported revenue of $3.13 billion. GAAP reported sales were 5.3% lower than the prior-year quarter's $3.30 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 $0.36. GAAP EPS were $0.30 for Q2 versus -$0.28 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 25.8%, 280 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 4.8%, 140 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 1.8%, 330 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $12.97 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.21.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 443 members out of 491 rating the stock outperform, and 48 members rating it underperform. Among 114 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 100 give Dean Foods a green thumbs-up, and 14 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Dean Foods is outperform, with an average price target of $16.65.