Noble (NYSE: NE) is expected to report Q4 earnings on Jan. 23. 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 Noble's revenues will grow 27.1% and EPS will expand 24.0%.

The average estimate for revenue is $954.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.62.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Noble booked revenue of $884.0 million. GAAP reported sales were 19% higher than the prior-year quarter's $720.5 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, EPS came in at $0.45. GAAP EPS of $0.45 for Q3 were 15% lower than the prior-year quarter's $0.53 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 46.0%, 310 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 20.9%, 180 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 13.4%, 540 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $3.53 billion. The average EPS estimate is $2.15.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 2,206 members out of 2,238 rating the stock outperform, and 32 members rating it underperform. Among 558 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 550 give Noble a green thumbs-up, and eight give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Noble is outperform, with an average price target of $47.65.

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