McMoRan Exploration (NYSE: MMR) is expected to report Q4 earnings around Jan. 18. 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 McMoRan Exploration's revenues will wane -28.3% and EPS will shrink to a loss.

The average estimate for revenue is $87.5 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.10.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, McMoRan Exploration notched revenue of $91.8 million. GAAP reported sales were 34% lower than the prior-year quarter's $138.2 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 -$0.35. GAAP EPS were -$0.40 for Q3 versus -$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 47.8%, 790 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -51.4%, 3,710 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was -58.5%, 5,920 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $376.1 million. The average EPS estimate is -$0.52.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 504 members out of 526 rating the stock outperform, and 22 members rating it underperform. Among 127 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 122 give McMoRan Exploration a green thumbs-up, and five give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on McMoRan Exploration is outperform, with an average price target of $15.14.

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