Alliance Resource Partners (Nasdaq: ARLP) 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 Alliance Resource Partners's revenues will grow 14.2% and EPS will contract -29.0%.

The average estimate for revenue is $541.8 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $1.37.

Revenue details
 Last quarter, Alliance Resource Partners recorded revenue of $511.4 million. GAAP reported sales were 4.9% higher than the prior-year quarter's $487.7 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, non-GAAP EPS came in at $1.42. GAAP EPS of $0.89 for Q3 were 59% lower than the prior-year quarter's $2.16 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 31.8%, 220 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 17.5%, 550 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 6.5%, 1,000 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $2.03 billion. The average EPS estimate is $5.95.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a five-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 710 members out of 731 rating the stock outperform, and 21 members rating it underperform. Among 200 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 194 give Alliance Resource Partners 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 Alliance Resource Partners is outperform, with an average price target of $75.25.

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