FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) 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 FirstEnergy's revenues will wane -0.8% and EPS will drop -20.1%.

The average estimate for revenue is $4.66 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.07.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, FirstEnergy tallied revenue of $3.90 billion. GAAP reported sales were 4.6% lower than the prior-year quarter's $3.94 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 $0.60. GAAP EPS of $0.45 for Q2 were 6.2% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.48 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 53.0%, 60 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 15.1%, 190 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 5.0%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $16.81 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.38.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 367 members out of 387 rating the stock outperform, and 20 members rating it underperform. Among 92 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 85 give FirstEnergy a green thumbs-up, and seven give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on FirstEnergy is hold, with an average price target of $49.47.

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