Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) 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 Quest Diagnostics's revenues will wither -2.2% and EPS will contract -13.0%.

The average estimate for revenue is $1.83 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.07.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Quest Diagnostics chalked up revenue of $1.85 billion. GAAP reported sales were 2.9% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.91 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 $1.18. GAAP EPS of $1.01 for Q3 were 6.5% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.08 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 42.2%, 10 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 19.1%, 80 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 8.8%, 20 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $7.52 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.47.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 546 members out of 580 rating the stock outperform, and 34 members rating it underperform. Among 189 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 183 give Quest Diagnostics a green thumbs-up, and six give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Quest Diagnostics is hold, with an average price target of $62.03.

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