United Continental Holdings (NYSE: UAL) is expected to report Q4 earnings around Jan. 26. 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 United Continental Holdings's revenues will shrink -2.7% and EPS will shrink to a loss.

The average estimate for revenue is $8.69 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is -$0.52.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, United Continental Holdings reported revenue of $9.91 billion. GAAP reported sales were 2.6% lower than the prior-year quarter's $10.17 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 $1.35. GAAP EPS of $0.02 for Q3 were 99% lower than the prior-year quarter's $1.69 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 26.4%, 290 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 7.2%, 320 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 0.1%, 630 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $37.13 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.65.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a one-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 387 members out of 783 rating the stock outperform, and 396 members rating it underperform. Among 202 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 92 give United Continental Holdings a green thumbs-up, and 110 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on United Continental Holdings is outperform, with an average price target of $26.18.

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