General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) is expected to report Q4 earnings around 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 General Dynamics's revenues will compress -3.8% and EPS will shrink -6.4%.

The average estimate for revenue is $8.80 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.90.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, General Dynamics reported revenue of $7.93 billion. GAAP reported sales were 1.0% higher than the prior-year quarter's $7.85 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 $1.75. GAAP EPS of $1.70 for Q3 were 5.0% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.79 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 17.8%, 120 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 11.4%, 130 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 7.6%, 70 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $32.22 billion. The average EPS estimate is $6.96.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 1,301 members out of 1,365 rating the stock outperform, and 64 members rating it underperform. Among 378 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 363 give General Dynamics a green thumbs-up, and 15 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on General Dynamics is outperform, with an average price target of $74.44.

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