Illinois Tool Works (NYSE: ITW) is expected to report Q4 earnings on Jan. 29. 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 Illinois Tool Works's revenues will shrink -4.0% and EPS will contract 0.0%.

The average estimate for revenue is $4.15 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.90.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Illinois Tool Works notched revenue of $4.50 billion. GAAP reported sales were 1.7% lower than the prior-year quarter's $4.58 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 $1.09. GAAP EPS of $1.12 for Q3 were 8.7% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.03 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 36.6%, 130 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 17.0%, 140 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 11.6%, 50 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $17.86 billion. The average EPS estimate is $4.08.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 757 members out of 783 rating the stock outperform, and 26 members rating it underperform. Among 256 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 250 give Illinois Tool Works 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 Illinois Tool Works is outperform, with an average price target of $60.57.

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