Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (NYSE: FCX) is expected to report Q4 earnings around Jan. 19. 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 Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold's revenues will grow 11.3% and EPS will expand 6.9%.

The average estimate for revenue is $4.63 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.77.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold tallied revenue of $4.42 billion. GAAP reported sales were 15% lower than the prior-year quarter's $5.20 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 $0.68. GAAP EPS of $0.86 for Q3 were 22% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.10 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 41.3%, 920 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 31.9%, 950 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 18.7%, 160 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $18.28 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.22.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 5,797 members out of 5,989 rating the stock outperform, and 192 members rating it underperform. Among 1,221 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 1,182 give Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold a green thumbs-up, and 39 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold is outperform, with an average price target of $47.85.

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